Construction and architecture companies have burgeoned in the last 12 months as the sector and demand for real estate grows steadily, according to industry experts.

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“In 2011, we see the construction and real estate sectors in Cambodia enjoyed a remarkable recovery, so our work has followed suit,” said Dy Ty Mo, Director of the Architectural Center, which launched in response to the recovering sectors. He added that the company undertook six projects last year.  

Design and construction companies registered in the Kingdom totalled 1074 in 2011, a 13.7 per cent increase compared to the previous year, Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction statistics showed.  

Ing Vasna, Director of AMiNG Construction Company, said demand for their services increased more than 50 per cent from 2010 to 2011.

“I hope that this year our company will get more customers than in 2011 because I expect better activities in Cambodia’s economy and real estate market” he said.

Chea Bunseang, Director of BAA Bunseang Architects and Associates, said his company also enjoyed a 50 per cent growth in projects, which includes the construction of a number of schools.

“Construction projects increased only in the cities that have demand, but there are less in the provinces. In the past we had carried out apartment and condo projects only, but we could continue with other projects in 2012 and our revenue could double from 2011.”

Some companies, however, were less optimistic about their prospects through 2012, as competition in the sector continues to grow.

“At this time, Cambodia’s economy does not show all the signs of strong growth. We are now completing remaining projects, but have not stated any new project yet,” At Work Ekdesign Group General Manager Tai Song Try said, adding that most of their design projects focused on private housing developments.

A total of 2129 constructions projects were approved throughout the Kingdom in 2011 resulting in a US$1.7 billion gain in capital compared with US$840 million in 2010, according to figures released by the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction last week.  

More approvals for small-scaled projects saw a five percent increase in building license distribution for local and foreign construction companies from 2010 to 2011.