The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) last week approved a $160.6 million brewery in Chhak Chhoeu Neang commune’s Trapaing Veng village in Kandal province’s Ang Snuol district.
The project is invested in by Hanuman Beverages Co Ltd and is expected to generate 1,545 jobs, the CDC said.
Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation spokesman Oum Sotha told The Post on Monday that it welcomed the project, which he said will help meet local and foreign market demands.
“The ministry and I have always welcomed all of the projects that the Council for the Development of Cambodia has approved.
“We’ll always support the creation of new factories, increasing business and employment for Cambodians both directly and indirectly,” Sotha said.
He said the government is making every effort to attract foreign investors and encourage investment in food and beverage processing plants which curb imports into Cambodia.
“Of course, beer products are not necessities, but if both domestic and foreign markets still demand them and [production] remains competitive, Cambodia should permit the further establishment of this type of business based on real investment.
“In addition to beverages, there are other non-alcoholic beverages we could look to support to further cut back imports – such as orange juice, fruit juice and pure drinking water,” he said.
Cambodia Chamber of Commerce vice-president Lim Heng said: “We welcome all new investment projects from abroad.
“I believe this brewery plant investment project comes due to the company seeing high demand in our country and also a chance to produce for exports,” said Heng.
He noted that companies that receive CDC approval for their projects have one year to develop them. They must reapply for approval if they fail to do so within the timeframe.
There are currently 10 breweries and beverage plants listed at the ministry, it said in a report provided to The Post on Monday.
The plants are Ana Water and Smiler Beverage Co Ltd, Asian Sunrise Co Ltd, Cambodia Brewery Ltd, Cambrew Ltd, Daun Penh Food and Beverage Co Ltd, Khmer Beverage Co Ltd, Far East Import Export Co Ltd, Kingdom Breweries (Cambodia) Ltd, Media GB Enterprise Co Ltd, and Phnom Penh Beer Co Ltd.
