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Cambodia
Business
GDP:
US$8.6 billion (2007).
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Main exports: Dried
fish, rubber, tobacco and clothing.
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Main imports: Petroleum
products, gold, construction
materials and machinery.
•
Main trade partners:
Vietnam, USA, Germany, UK
and Thailand.
Economy
The Cambodian economy was all but
destroyed by the war in southeast
Asia and the rule of the Khmer Rouge
between 1975 and 1979. Since the
ousting of the Khmer Rouge from
power by the Vietnamese in 1979,
Cambodia has undergone a slow
process of recovery. Restoration of
agriculture (the foundation of the
Cambodian economy and the main
source of employment) has been slow
but steady with rice as the staple.
The timber industry has also grown
quickly but at the expense of
worrying deforestation.
The effects of the 1997 currency
crisis on the economy were
transitory, given the relatively
undeveloped state of the Cambodian
economy. Cambodia aspires to the
status of an Asian ‘tiger' economy
and has joined the Association of
South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN),
now the principal regional economic
co-operation body.
GDP growth stood at 9.1% in a 2007
estimate, with inflation at 4.4%.
Business Etiquette
Shirt and tie need only be worn on
the most formal of occasions.
Timekeeping can be a little vague so
try to reconfirm meetings before
turning up. The exchange of business
cards is important. Some knowledge
of French would be useful.
Office hours:
Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1400-1700/1730
and Sat 0800-1200.
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