Work on the stock exchange has been underway

since September but this week the government made it official, signing an

agreement with the Korea Exchange to establish a market in 2009. Korea Exchange,

or KRX, is Asia's fourth-largest bourse operator. KRX is also working with Laos

to open a stock exchange. The Cambodian government will own a 51 percent share

in the new exchange, with KRX holding 49 percent.