Cambodia's first market research firm has opened its doors in Phnom Penh. OMIC Limited,

a Hong Kong registered company, was established with the primary purpose of providing

business services for companies interested in or currently operating in Cambodia,

Laos and Vietnam. The group's Phnom Penh office is its first in the region with representation

in Bangkok and Hong Kong as well.

On Jan. 1, OMIC released its first comprehensive report on Cambodian investment opportunities.

Entitled "Investment and Market Development in Cambodia," the 46-page document

is, "the only market research report on Cambodia available at present,"

according to Jules Thomas, OMIC's general manager in Phnom Penh.

OMIC's market survey is "specifically targeted to firms interested in investment

opportunities in Cambodia, whether it is consumer goods, property, tourism or petroleum,"

said Thomas, who arrived in Phnom Penh last October to set up the firm's operations.

The report is the first in what will be a regular series of investment overviews

provided to interested parties on a subscription basis. OMIC is also prepared to

undertake specific market research on a case-by-case basis in response to the interests

of prospective clients.

OMIC's initial market survey provides a broad overview of the political and economic

situation in Cambodia as well as the current state of the country's infrastructure.

Sectoral analyses include banking, property, tourism, textiles and petroleum.

Overall, the report provides a one-stop wealth of information of general and specific

interest to businesses with active or potential interest in the Cambodian market,

both for domestic consumption and export-related industries. Given the current state

of flux in Cambodia's economic and political future, the firm's expected monthly

updates on investment opportunities should be well-received.

Beyond OMIC's primary focus on market research, the firm is also engaged in a variety

of trading activities. OMIC has several active business interests. It is serving

as the agent for Consolid, a soil stabilizer used to harden soil in road construction.

According to Thomas, "Consolid is an environmentally-friendly chemical compound

that enables one to build roads that last 25 years, instead of using expensive materials

like crushed stone or tarmac."

OMIC is also the agent for Thai Rung Union Cars, a Thai-based manufacturer of diesel-powered

agricultural vehicles.

"We are at the embryo stage at the moment," said Thomas with regard to

plans to set up an assembly plant in Cambodia for the vehicles, which are common

in rural areas of Thailand. "This could be a major development for Cambodia,

to produce vehicles which are actually affordable for Cambodians," he added.

The company hopes to work with UNDP, FAO and a number of NGOs in introducing "ultra

low-cost vehicles, assembled in Cambodia and available for the local market,"

according to Thomas.

The firm will also serve as the agent for office furniture manufactured by Herman

Miller in the U.S.A. OMIC's Phnom Penh office will be set up as a showroom displaying

a variety of desks, chairs and other office equipment available for order.

OMIC's Phnom Penh office is located at No. 2 Tousamuth Blvd., in the Peugeot Building.