Cambodia: 3 Reforms to Simplify Starting a Business

• 3 proposed reforms. Shared electronic company documents, standardized photo requirements and consistent activity codes.
• 4th Public-Private Sector Breakfast Briefing. It was jointly organized by the CDC and the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (EuroCham).
• Steigenberger Hotel, Phnom Penh. The session took stock of a joint initiative to ease regulatory burdens.
• Fewer repeated document requests since June. This has been observed since a baseline assessment carried out in June, but no figures were released on the size of the drop, or on processing times and costs.
• Target deadline: end of 2026. Participants discussed which proposals could be applied by then. For now, they remain recommendations.

The initiative follows the investor's entire journey: investment approval, company incorporation, licensing, and then the start of operations.

1. Third Public-Private Sector Dialogue: launch of the joint initiative between the CDC, the relevant ministries and EuroCham. It looks for the points where businesses have to provide the same information twice.
2. June: baseline assessment to measure repeated document requests.
3. Since June: according to EuroCham, repeated requests have declined. No figures were provided.
4. October 2026: fourth Public-Private Sector Breakfast Briefing at the Steigenberger Hotel in Phnom Penh. The three proposals were presented and discussed there.
5. October 14, 2026: Cambodia Investment Review published its report on the meeting.
6. Next step: participants are looking at how to secure buy-in from the institutions and turn the recommendations into concrete measures.
7. Before the end of 2026: the deadline under discussion for reforms that can be delivered quickly. This also concerns the institutions able to move data sharing forward.

The proposals address three friction points and one general principle of information sharing between government bodies.

At the summit, speakers included European Union Ambassador H.E. Igor Driesmans, EuroCham Cambodia President Tassilo Brinzer, and Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Sun Chanthol, First Vice-Chairman of the CDC.

• Fewer paperwork repeats. If company documents are accepted as a single electronic version, the back-and-forth between offices could shrink.
• One photo to prepare, once. Standardized photo requirements would spare you from redoing portraits for each agency.
• An activity recognized from start to finish. With a single list of codes, the activity declared at registration would be recognized at later stages.
• Possibly more predictable procedures. The stated aim is faster, more predictable approvals, with shorter timelines and lower administrative costs for entrepreneurs.
• A timeline that is still open. These are recommendations. Current procedures apply until an official decision is published.

1. Step 1: Keep following the procedures currently in force. The three proposals are not yet in effect.
2. Step 2: Keep a digital copy of every company document. A well-organized file makes the process easier, whether or not electronic documents are adopted.
3. Step 3: Keep a recent ID photo as a digital file, in addition to the printed copies required today.
4. Step 4: Describe your activity the same way on all your forms. Consistent wording prevents discrepancies between registration and licensing.
5. Step 5: Note what each ministry has already asked you for, and when. This log helps you spot duplicate requests.
6. Step 6: Rely on a local adviser or a reputable firm that keeps up with changes in procedures.
7. Step 7: Follow official announcements from the CDC and EuroCham before changing your business-setup timeline.