In conjunction with Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai's visit to Cambodia,

the Thai Board of Investment hosted a seminar in Phnom Penh on Jan 13 entitled

"New Dimension of Cambodia's Investment Environment."

The one-day event,

held at the Cambodiana Hotel, brought together over 150 members of the Thai

private sector to look at current and future investment opportunities in

Cambodia.

Participants included the 55-member private sector delegation

who accompanied Chuan on his visit to Cambodia, representing Thai industries

such as furniture-making, food processing and other light industries both from

Bangkok and other provinces in Thailand.

Members of the Thai business

community currently operating in Cambodia were also in attendance.

While

no official figures on the size of current Thai investment in Cambodia were

available, the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh lists more than 100 Thai-registered

companies operating in Phnom Penh and other provincial

capitals.

Thai-owned banks head the list of foreign banks with 10

currently maintaining operations in Phnom Penh. Other business sectors with

significant Thai ownership include hotels (15), restaurants (17), import-export

firms (18), manufacturing (11), and travel agencies (8).

Speakers at the

seminar included Cambodia's Minister of Economics and Finance Sam Rainsy,

Minister of State in charge of Development and Rehabilitation Keat Chhon,

National Bank Governor Thor Pengleath, Minister of Industry Pou Sothirak and

Minister of Tourism Veng Sereyvuth.