The Kingdom’s coastal Sihanoukville, where Chinese nationals national dominated nearly a half of businesses before the COVID-19 outbreak, is seeing economic activity gradually rebound after Middle Kingdom’s investors and workers started to return to the province as pandemic fears ease.
Preah Sihanouk provincial hall spokesman Kheang Phearum told Khmer Times that Since May 23 up to yesterday, 1,066 Chinese nationals arrived in the province on direct flights.
He said most of them are investors, company executives and ordinary workers.
According to Phearum, Chinese national in Sihanoukville have invested in the tourism sector, casinos, construction, services and manufacturing.
He said the province has attracted construction project investment valued at more than $7 billion over the last four years – mostly from Chinese nationals.
Lim Heng, vice-president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC), said that most Chinese nationals are returning to Sihanoukville after fears of the pandemic declined. He said they are investors and staff.
He added that the province is enjoying a second phase with stable and sustainable growth.
Heng believes the Chinese will be attracted first while investment from other countries will come later. “Sihanoukville will be the same as Hong Kong – a region that attract investors from around the world, not just Chinese,” he said.
Sihanoukville: Returning Chinese mark a sign of a business rebound