Foreign aid

Cambodia's emerging democracy has received strong international support. Under the mandate carried out by the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), $1.72 billion (1.72 G$) was spent in an effort to bring basic security, stability and democratic rule to the country. Regarding economic assistance, official donors had pledged $880 million at the Ministerial Conference on the Rehabilitation of Cambodia (MCRRC) in Tokyo in June 1992, to which pledges of $119 million were added in September 1993 at the meeting of the International Committee on the Reconstruction of Cambodia (ICORC) in Paris, and $643 million at the March 1994 ICORC meeting in Tokyo. To date, therefore, the total amount pledged for Cambodia's rehabilitation is approximately 12.3 G$.

[edit] Recent developments

2007 GDP (or gross monetarised product GMP)grew an estimated 18.6%, in line with the 2000/06 average of 9.5 percent. Garment exports rose almost 8%, tourist arrivals jumped nearly 35%, and construction activity doubled. With exports decelerating somewhat, the 2007 GDP growth was driven by consumption and investment. Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows reached US$600 million (7 percent of GDP), slightly more than the country received in official aid. Domestic investment, driven largely by the private sector, accounted for 23.4 percent of GDP. Approximately 2,860 new businesses registered for operation in 2007, a 71 percent increase over 2006.

Although risks have increased, economic prospects for 2008 remain strong. The projected 7.5 percent growth rate for 2008 reflects a mix of growth in services (mainly tourism) and construction combined with a slowdown in garment exports. Export growth, especially to the US, began to slow in late 2007 accompanied by stiffer competition from Vietnam and emerging risks (slowdown in the US economy and lifting of safeguards on China’s exports). Although exports of cash crops have grown fast in recent years, developments in the garment industry have a major impact on Cambodia’s export performance. On the other hand, Cambodia’s exporters might benefit from the depreciation of the dollar. Another risk is uncertainties in the construction sector.

[edit] Statistics

Investment (gross fixed): 3% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 23.7% (2011)

Agriculture - products: rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca, silk

Industries: tourism, garments, construction, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles

Industrial production growth rate: 1.8%

Electricity:

• production: .981 billion kWh (2011 est.)
• consumption: .867 billion kWh (2011 est.)
• exports: 0 kWh (2007 est.)
• imports: 274 million kWh (2011 est.)

Exchange rates: riels (KHR) per US dollar - 4,395.62 (2011), 4,145 (2010), 4,139.33 (2009), 4,070.94 (2008), 4,006 (2007), 4,103 (2006)