Construction sector investment soars
Investment in the Cambodian construction sector reached US$1.38 billion in the first seven months of 2012, an 8s-percent rise over the same period last year, according to figures from the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction. During the January to July period this year, the ministry issued licenses to 1,083 construction projects, down 15 percent from 1,279 projects at the same period last year. The jump in investment value despite the decrease in the number of projects is explained by the fact that projects this year are bigger than those in 2011, according to the ministry. Projects include residential units, commercial buildings, apartments, hotels, casinos, agricultural processing plants and garment factories. Cambodia’s construction sector is one of the four pillars supporting the nation’s economy, and attracted a total of US$1.7 billion in investment last year.
