Cuba on Wednesday vowed to encourage its citizens to invest in Cambodia after the ongoing pandemic has stabilised, Minister of Tourism Thong Khon said via the ministry’s official Facebook page.
The remarks were made during a meeting between Khon and newly appointed Cuban Ambassador to Cambodia, Liurka Rodriguez Barrios.
Noting the potential of the Kingdom’s tourism industry, Rodriguez Barrios said: “Cuba will continue to support and strengthen the good relations with Cambodia.
“When the Covid-19 crisis disappears from the world, the Republic of Cuba will continue to attract more tourists and investors to Cambodia,” she said.
Cuba’s revolutionary government first established diplomatic relations with Cambodia during late King Father Norodom Sihanouk’s reign on April 15, 1960 – a year after Fidel Castro seized power from US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista.
Khon said the two countries plan to celebrate their 60th anniversary of relations once the crisis has been completely put under control.
“I highly appreciate the Cuban investors who have contributed in boosting economic development in Cambodia in the past, and we welcome new investors,” he said.
Cambodia Chamber of Commerce vice-president Lim Heng told The Post on Thursday that there is little in the way of Cuban investment. However, the Kingdom welcomes all foreign nationals willing to invest.
“It’s wonderful that Cuba will encourage its investors and people to come to Cambodia after the Covid-19 [situation] has eased,” he said.
The Cambodia Development Council (CDC) has approved 40 investment projects worth more than $900 million during the first three months of this year, national press agency Agence Kampuchea Presse reported.
The projects are mostly investments in garments, footwear, travel products, furniture, kitchen appliances, electrical components, as well as hotels and shopping malls, said the report.
