Cambodia Economic Land Concessions: Still a Viable Investment?

Gavin Batcheler, Senior Counsel at VDB Loi’s Cambodia office, wrote an article for Lawyer Monthly’s July 2013 edition.

Over the past three years, land concessions in Cambodia have been a lightning rod for social protest and negative media attention. This situation has been seen as so severe, that in 2011 the World Bank suspended aid to Cambodia and in 2012 the Prime Minister issued a moratorium on new Land Concessions in the country. In light of these events, many investors may get the impression that Cambodia’s once promising concession opportunities are no longer available, or even worth the risk. In fact, valid land concessions continue to be granted at a steady rate in Cambodia. For investors willing to tread carefully, land concessions in Cambodia remain a viable and lucrative investment option.