U.S. biological firm invests more than $500 million in Cambodia

KAMPONG THOM, Cambodia, Jan 15, 2026 (KPT) – U.S. biomedical giant Charles River Laboratories (CRL) has invested more than $500 million in Cambodia, launching one of the largest American foreign direct investments in the kingdom.

The project, located in Kampong Svay district of Kampong Thom province, was inaugurated Thursday at a ceremony presided over by Standing Deputy Prime Minister Vongsey Vissoth, with representatives from the U.S. Embassy also in attendance.

Vissoth hailed the investment as a strategic milestone, saying the primate breeding facility would create jobs, raise incomes, diversify the rural economy, and strengthen Cambodia’s role in global biomedical supply chains. “This major investment is a new achievement for the people of Kampong Thom and for Cambodia as a whole,” he said.

Shannon M. Parisotto, Corporate Executive Vice President for Global Discovery & Safety Assessment Management, said the deal marked “a long-term strategic partnership with Cambodia, based on trust, shared ambition, and mutual benefit.” She praised the government’s leadership in facilitating the acquisition, adding that the investment underscored Cambodia’s readiness to embrace high-value life sciences and healthcare supply chains.

CRL, which operates in more than 20 countries with nearly 20,000 employees, said it supported the development of about 90 percent of new treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2025.

More than 200 Cambodian employees will remain at the facility, with commitments to higher wages, expanded workforce, and new training programs in veterinary science, husbandry, biosecurity, and laboratory quality systems. The company also pledged further investment in infrastructure, including expanded breeding capacity, modern monitoring systems, and improved environmental and waste management facilities.

Beyond its scientific mission, CRL announced an annual corporate social responsibility budget of USD 250,000 for education, healthcare, clean water, and youth development. Its first major initiative will be the construction of a new school in the local community in 2026.

“Under CRL’s leadership, Cambodia will become an essential and reliable part of our global supply chain,” Parisotto said. “This is the beginning of a shared journey – a journey of trust, development, partnership, and long-term impact.”