Cambodia Prepares to Align Investment Framework with WTO Facilitation Agreement

PHNOM PENH, March 3, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia has begun preparing to align its investment framework with the World Trade Organization’s Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement, a move officials say will strengthen transparency, efficiency and competitiveness.

The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), working with the World Bank and the International Trade Centre, launched a workshop and needs assessment mission to evaluate the country’s readiness to implement the accord.

Suon Sophal, Deputy Secretary-General of the CDC, said negotiations on the legal text concluded in November 2023, with the agreement formally announced at the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi in early 2024. He noted that 128 WTO members are backing efforts to integrate the deal into the global trade framework.

The initiative will review existing procedures, identify gaps against international standards, and map out priority reforms and technical assistance needs.

Officials stressed that investment facilitation is not only about attracting capital but also about job creation, infrastructure expansion and technology transfer — key pillars for Cambodia’s long-term industrial transformation.

The assessment, which runs through March 6, includes consultations with ministries and agencies to ensure coordinated implementation of future reforms.