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Priority Industries
Preah Sihanouk is Cambodia’s launchpad for next-generation coastal industries. With world-class port and airport access, the province is primed for high-return investment in entertainment tourism, modern agro-processing and food industries, hi-tech manufacturing and other potential industries, offering direct gateways to global markets and a fast-evolving business ecosystem.
Tourism
Preah Sihanouk Province boasts over 185.81 kilometers of pristine coastline and is home to a collection of stunning islands, offering exceptional natural beauty and rich tourism potential. Beyond its environmental appeal, the province enjoys a highly strategic geographic position at the heart of the ASEAN and RCEP regions. It lies just 1 to 2 hours by air from major ASEAN capitals and 3 to 5 hours from key economic powerhouses such as China, Japan, and South Korea. This centrality makes Preah Sihanouk a natural hub for regional tourism, trade, logistics, and investment.
Preah Sihanouk offers investors a compelling tourism proposition, blending natural beauty with vibrant visitor experiences. The province boasts pristine beaches such as Sokha and Otres, complemented by the energy of Ochheuteal Beach—famed for its beach bars, nightlife, and year-round tourist flow. With seamless island-hopping access to the world-renowned Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem, opportunities abound for eco-resorts and marine-based tourism ventures. Anchored by cultural attractions like Phsar Leu Market and a growing portfolio of luxury resorts, Preah Sihanouk presents an ideal environment for developing high-end leisure experiences, waterfront hospitality, and lifestyle tourism investment potentials.
Sightseeing and Resort Area
Focuses on beach and resort experiences, providing a relaxing and enjoyable environment. With stunning ocean views, sunny beaches, and a variety of activities, it offers an ideal destination for those seeking a memorable seaside getaway.
Leisure and Entertainment Area
Focuses on cultural experiences, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in local traditions and customs. It will also feature duty-free shopping for a range of products and souvenirs. In addition, guests can enjoy culinary adventures that showcase delicious seafood and traditional dishes, providing a taste of the region’s rich culinary heritage.
Eco-tourism Area
Focuses on the unique ecology of the islands, offering visitors a chance to explore and appreciate the natural environment. This area will provide sightseeing experiences that highlight the beauty of local landscapes and wildlife, while promoting sustainable tourism practices that protect the ecosystem.
High-End Recreation Area
Focuses on luxury hotels and resorts, emphasizing health and wellness services. This area aims to attract high-quality consumers by offering exceptional amenities and experiences that promote relaxation and well-being.
Agro-Processing and Agriculture
Focus on high-value fine processing of products such as rice, coconut, cashew, mango, durian, as well as processing of aquaculture products (seaweed, fish and shrimp), fruit-based snacks and fruit-flavored beverages sourced directly from Preah Sihanouk Province and neighboring provinces.
Preah Sihanouk Province is positioned to lead Cambodia’s agro-industrial revolution, offering a prime base for high-value agro-processing and export. With direct access to the country’s only deep-sea port, modern industrial zones and integrated logistics, it provides unmatched advantages for transforming raw agricultural inputs into export-ready products. Backed by strong government support through the MPSEZ framework, the province presents a compelling opportunity for investors to tap into streamlined international market access and globally connected agro-processing ventures.
Aquaculture
Offshore “ocean ranch” and seaweed farming can promote economic growth and environmental protection. Marine pastures reduce pollution and support sustainable aquaculture. Government support is vital in early stages. To boost aquaculture competitiveness, investing in R&D and reducing reliance on imported breeding technologies are recommended.
Snacks
The relatively low barriers to entry and steadily growing market of snack manufacturing offer great opportunities for new entrants. Preah Sihanouk Province, with its equipped industrial foundation and investment potential, is well-suited to enter the snack manufacturing industry and initially focus on fine-processing a specific category of snacks.
Beverages
Preah Sihanouk Province is well positioned to take advantage of the low barriers to entry in the beverage production industry. The transfer of fruit-flavored beverage production from other regions presents a great opportunity.
Agricultural Trade
Preah Sihanouk Province has potential for developing agricultural trade despite lacking modern functions. In the short term, a professional agricultural market is needed. Medium-term plans include a one-stop online platform using digital technologies. Long-term goals involve adding financial functions and encouraging agro-processing near seaports to modernize key farming industries.
Export-Oriented Manufacturing
Preah Sihanouk Province will shift from labor-intensive industries such as textiles and garment manufacturing to focusing on high-value-added and technology-intensive products, including electronics assembly, automotive components and other advanced manufacturing sectors. This transition reflects a broader industrial upgrading strategy aimed at enhancing productivity, diversifying the economic base and positioning the province as a competitive hub within regional and global supply chains. By attracting investment in smart manufacturing and supporting infrastructure, the province aims to create skilled employment opportunities, foster innovation, and increase the export value of Cambodian-made products.
Preah Sihanouk Province is fast becoming Cambodia’s next industrial growth engine, with 5 operational Special Economic Zones offering investors a gateway to diversified, value-added manufacturing. Backed by the MPSEZ, the province is upgrading its strong textile base with OEM capabilities while opening new frontiers in electronics, machinery and building materials. With rising demand for electric vehicles and smart devices, Preah Sihanouk is primed for full-scale electronic and automotive component production. Planned R&D hubs and specialized research centers will anchor innovation, making it an ideal destination for high-tech and future-ready investment.
To develop consumer products, such as household appliances and electronic equipment at the starting point, to gradually move forward to complete machine * assembly, and finally accumulate enough capacity to produce value-added electronic products, to further extend automotive electronics manufacturing to a complete chain of automotive industry.
Electronic Information Industry
To develop consumer products, such as household appliances and electronic equipment at the starting point, to gradually move forward to complete machine assembly, and finally accumulate enough capacity to produce value-added electronic products, to further extend automotive electronics manufacturing to a complete chain of automotive industry.
R&D for the Hi-Tech Manufacturing
To support the development of high-tech manufacturing, it is recommended to establish a Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab). The laboratory will provide the capability to create prototypes of products, test new ideas and innovations, and develop new technologies, as well as electronics devices and robots. As the electric automotive is an important development trend in the hi-tech manufacturing, it is suggested to establish an Automotive Research Center. The Center can focus on the electrification research and automotive parts improvement. It is also recommended to establish an Electronic Information Research Center focusing on the electronic parts improvement and new devices R&D. Besides, the Lab-Enterprise Cooperation Center could be established to further provide the place for specialists and professors to transfer the prototypes into the new mass-produced products and devices which can update the production lines of the manufacturing enterprises.
Energy and Petrochemical
Preah Sihanouk Province is emerging as Cambodia’s leading energy and petrochemical hub, offering prime opportunities for investors. With the country’s first major oil refinery and petrochemical complex underway, the province is set to supply fuels, plastics, and chemical inputs to both domestic and regional markets. Its deep-sea port and logistics connectivity make it ideal for LNG terminals, bonded fuel storage and marine bunkering. Growing demand from industrial zones and port operations also creates space for renewable energy projects like solar, offshore wind and green hydrogen. For energy and petrochemical investors, Preah Sihanouk offers a strategic, future-oriented entry point into Cambodia coastal industrial growth.
With increasing energy demand and power diversification goals, Preah Sihanouk is emerging as a candidate for LNG terminal development. Ongoing feasibility assessments explore the construction of floating or onshore LNG terminals to import natural gas, which can support industrial, power generation and port-related operations. Future LNG infrastructure could serve as a cleaner energy alternative and anchor Preah Sihanouk’s role as a regional energy import gateway for Cambodia’s western and southern corridors.
Oil Refining and Petrochemical Base
Preah Sihanouk Province has been designated as a strategic location for Cambodia’s first large-scale oil refinery and petrochemical complex. The Cambodia Petroleum Refinery project, led by a joint venture between local and Chinese partners, aims to produce refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel to meet domestic demand and reduce dependency on imports. The site selection in Preah Sihanouk reflects access to deep-sea port logistics, connectivity to inland consumption centers and proximity to potential offshore oil and gas blocks. Beyond refining, the vision includes downstream petrochemical production such as plastics, synthetic resins and chemical feedstocks, positioning the province as a future petrochemical hub.
Power Generation and Transmission
The province plays a crucial role in Cambodia's coastal power grid, supplying electricity to industrial zones, ports and tourism infrastructure. While historically reliant on imported electricity and fossil fuels, recent investments have added domestic coal-fired power plants and renewable energy inputs. Opportunities exist to integrate solar farms, waste-to-energy facilities and natural gas-based power plants to support sustainable industrialization. Upgrading transmission lines and establishing power redundancy will be key for supporting energy-intensive sectors like petrochemicals, cold chain logistics and light manufacturing within the special economic zones.
With direct access to Cambodia’s only deep-water port, Preah Sihanouk offers a strategic base for fuel logistics and distribution. Existing facilities already handle bulk imports and inland fuel distribution for the southern region, but surging industrial activity and trade volumes are creating strong demand for expanded capacity. Investors have a timely opportunity to develop modern fuel infrastructure such as refined product storage, compliant tank farms, and bonded fuel warehouses to serve not only domestic transport and industry but also the fast-growing marine and export manufacturing sectors. The province’s logistics advantage makes it a natural anchor for long-term energy-related investments.
Renewable Energy and Industrial Decarbonization
Although still nascent, the province has long-term potential for renewable energy integration, particularly solar and offshore wind, given its coastal geography and land availability. As industrial parks and petrochemical zones develop, the adoption of green energy solutions and low-carbon industrial design will become increasingly important. Preah Sihanouk could pioneer renewable integration models in Cambodia, including solar rooftops for factories, hybrid energy storage systems, and green hydrogen pilots linked to the petrochemical value chain.
