Legal Reforms: A Key Enabler for Investment
Cambodia’s economy is becoming increasingly dynamic and interconnected, with improved infrastructure, expanding trade partnerships, and a growing presence of international firms. However, as Richard Stapley-Oh, Partner - Head of KPMG Law in Vietnam, highlighted during the forum, streamlining business regulations and enhancing legal certainty will be essential to attracting long-term investments.
Contract Enforcement & Dispute Resolution – Cambodia currently ranks 182 out of 190 globally in contract enforcement, with disputes taking an average of 483 days to resolve—twice the time compared to Vietnam. Specialized commercial courts are a crucial reform to improve legal certainty and investor confidence.
Intellectual Property (IP) Protections – As Stapley-Oh pointed out, UK investors in technology, pharmaceuticals, and financial services require stronger IP protections. Strengthening enforcement mechanisms will make Cambodia a more attractive destination for high-value industries.