Self-Employment in Cambodia


The majority of the workforce in Cambodia is self-employed or working for non-registered enterprises or family. Less than 50% are paid employees with most workers taking on second jobs.

With a workforce of 7.9 million based on a 2011 estimate, self-employment in Cambodia is quite easy to achieve. The Cambodia Investment Law allows both Cambodian citizens and foreigners to invest in the country. The Council for the Development of Cambodia is the government organization responsible for overseeing investments with its Division, the Cambodian Investment Board (CIB), responsible for reviewing and accepting all applications for investment incentives.

Investment applications that do not involve incentives are registered directly with the Ministry of Commerce. Applications for incentives in the fields specified by the government, namely: pioneer and/or high technology industries, job creation, export-oriented, tourism, agro-industry and transformation industry, physical infrastructure and energy, provincial and rural development, environmental protection, and investments in special promotion zone are submitted to the Cambodian Investment Board (CIB).

The application must include an investment proposal. This conditional registration is taken to have been approved if the investor does not receive a Conditional Registration Certificate or a Letter of Non-Compliance from CIB within three working days. Once approved and upon receipt of a final registration certificate, the investor will file registration forms with the Ministry of Commerce which issues the formal business license.

Incentives may include exemption of duties and taxes (in whole or part). Application fees range from USD 1,500 to USD 2,000.