Prime Minister Hun Sen received a visiting delegation of Japanese investors on Friday, according to the national news agency Agence Kampuchea Presse.

Led by Fujino Takashi from the Keidanren Japan Business Federation and a member of the Board of Directors at Asahi Glass, the delegation’s visit was geared towards exploring investment opportunities in the Kingdom.

Japanese investors and tourists coming to Cambodia have been increasing, Hun Sen said, recommending that Japanese investors consider investment opportunities in the field of agriculture and the mining and energy sectors, according to Agence Kampuchea Presse.

Kiyotaka Doho, general secretary of the Japanese Business Association of Cambodia, agreed that Japanese investment in the Kingdom is growing.

The number of projects approved by the Council for the Development of Cambodia as qualified investment projects has been increasing from six projects in 2010 to about 20 projects in 2011, he said.

Japanese investment in the country had been focused on manufacturing in 2010 and 2011. This year investors will concentrate on service industries, Doho said.

While manufacturing investment still plays an important role, “this diversification over Japanese investment will be increasing”, he said.

Hak Sotheary, administrator at the Cambodia Japan Business School said, “Especially this year, more Japanese companies will come to Cambodia.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Anne Renzenbrink at [email protected]