Leading Philippine companies including San Miguel Corporation (SMC), Excellent Associates Group Limited (EAGL) and World City Group (WCG) on Monday expressed interest in investing in Cambodia’s logistics, agro-industry and healthcare sectors.
The remarks were made during a separate meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen in Manila.
After attending the Cambodia-Philippines Business Forum in Manila, the Prime Minister granted three separate courtesy calls, first to SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang, then to EAGL Chairman Dai Jianlaing and WCG Chairman Raymond Patrick V Guico.
The SMC chairman briefed Hun Sen on the company’s history as a leader in physical infrastructure, food and beverage, energy and refining.
Ang said SMC built and operates the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the Philippines’ main gateway, which serves Manila through four terminals and handles over 40 million passengers annually.
He outlined SMC’s objective to invest in logistics infrastructure through partnerships with local companies, emphasizing Cambodia’s skilled workforce and strategic location as key competitive advantages.
Welcoming Ang’s initiative, Hun Manet pointed to investment opportunities in Cambodia, particularly in the development of expressways to enhance regional connectivity.
He stressed that agriculture, a strategic sector for Cambodia, offers significant investment potential across the supply chain, linking the region to global markets.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the Royal Government’s commitment to supporting and facilitating investment by creating a conducive environment for foreign companies to thrive.
Immediately after the meeting, Prime Minister Hun Manet received another courtesy call from Dai Jianliang, Chairman of EAGL, who outlined plans to expand investment in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Jianliang briefly outlined EAGL’s objective to develop industrial and agro-industrial parks, particularly rice processing for export to Hong Kong, China and other markets.
Hun Manet praised Jianliang’s investment plan, stressing that the government’s policies support special economic zones.
He also encouraged EAGL to invest in agro-industrial supply chains, including the production of natural and chemical fertilizers, to reduce costs and add value for local farmers.
The Prime Minister also paid a courtesy call on Raymond Patrick V. Guico, President of WCG, to discuss potential cooperation with local partners in the health sector.
During the meeting, Guico shared WCG’s plan to develop tertiary health education into a leading sector in Asia, emphasizing that partnerships with local investors are key to success.
He emphasized that the signing of the MoU between WCG and Asia-Europe University (AEU) at the Cambodia-Philippines Business Forum clearly demonstrates our commitment to expanding our operations in the health education and training sector.
“With the support of the Prime Minister and strong cooperation, we plan to visit the Kingdom of Cambodia again soon to advance this vision and ensure future achievements,” he added.
Mr. Hun Manet reaffirmed the government’s focus on the health sector, noting the high demand for health professionals, especially nurses, to serve the population, including the elderly.
He stressed the importance of quality education and training standards, urging WCG to work closely with local partners and the Ministry of Health to establish clear standards for human resource development.
Ben Li, founder and honorary president of the Cambodia-China Business Association (CCCA), told the Khmer Times that Cambodia offers many advantages to foreign investors, especially with the current investment laws, which make Cambodia even more attractive.
He said that once the Funan Techo Canal and expressway are built, the Kingdom of Cambodia’s strategic location will develop into a major commodity hub for the ASEAN region, strengthening its role in regional and global trade networks.
