Cambodian Delegation Studies China’s OSS Models to Boost Industrial Upgrades

SHANGHAI, China (Oct.23, 2025) —  Dr. Phan Phalla, Secretary of State of Cambodia’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, led a high-level delegation to China this week to study best practices in one-stop service (OSS) governance at two of the country’s most advanced industrial zones.

The delegation — which included senior officials from the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), the Ministry of Commerce, and the General Department of Customs and Excise — visited the Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Administrative Service Center and the OSS Service Center of Suzhou Industrial Park.

The Shanghai FTZ, China’s first bonded zone, features a digital “single window” OSS platform that has registered more than 80,000 enterprises. The system has significantly streamlined administrative procedures, reducing approval times from 29 days to just five.

In Suzhou, the delegation toured the OSS Service Center of the Suzhou Industrial Park, a nationally ranked development zone that has hosted over 5,000 foreign firms. The park has been recognized as China’s top-performing national development zone for 10 consecutive years, thanks to its integrated governance and investor facilitation mechanisms.

Cambodia aims to apply these insights to its Integrated Industrial Initiative (III), a government-led strategy designed to attract relocating manufacturers and embed Cambodia more deeply into regional supply chains. The initiative emphasizes fast-track OSS implementation and investor-centric policy reforms to enhance competitiveness and industrial capacity.

The study tour reflects Cambodia’s commitment to modernizing its investment climate and learning from successful international models to accelerate economic development.

Cambodia-China bilateral trade surpassed USD 11 billion in the first seven months of 2025, with Chinese investment continuing to play a major role in Cambodia’s industrial development.

From January to July 2025, Cambodia-China trade reached USD 11 billion, marking a 26.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024 . However, Cambodia recorded a significant trade deficit, with exports to China totaling USD 888 million (down 8.9%) and imports from China reaching USD 10.11 billion (up 26.1%). This imbalance reflects Cambodia’s reliance on Chinese raw materials and machinery for its manufacturing sector.

Chinese investment in Cambodia remains robust, particularly in infrastructure, manufacturing, and special economic zones. During the 25th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) in September 2025, Cambodia’s Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) led a delegation of 17 companies to explore new investment opportunities and deepen cooperation. These efforts align with Cambodia’s broader strategy to attract foreign direct investment and integrate into regional supply chains.