Cambodia: Invest or avoid?

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Only weeks before the next elections, Hun Sen, Cambodia’s Prime Minister, the host of the world economic forum on Asia, and of 700 delegates. Manuela Kasper-Claridge reports from Phnom Penh.

“Cambodia is a capitalist as the United States,” says Tassilio Brinzer and enjoy the Surprise in his interlocutor. The End sits Forties on a beautiful wooden table in a large friendly guest room, in front of a freshly brewed beer, in the Background, some people play Billiards. There are Cambodian and Asian dishes, but also Brat – and Currywurst. “Hops”, is the name of the Local in the centre of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. In front of the door of the traffic roars and Brinzer is visibly satisfied with his beer locally. He even brought in a German master brewer in the country.

Brinzer has lived for several years in Cambodia. In addition to its beer locally, he owns a Restaurant, an advertising publisher and three magazines. “15 years ago there was not a house that was higher than five floors,” he says. “Look around you now!”

For most Cambodians is not yet arrived from the economic boom

Cambodia’s success story, and the tragedy of personal destinies

Almost at every corner a new building. Chic Apartments with balconies are built and business houses with several dozen floors. The construction boom is driven by Chinese capital, and economic growth. In the last 10 years, the Cambodian economy has grown year on year by at least seven percent. Thus, the Southeast Asian country is one of the growth countries in the world. Of great prosperity, however, can be no question.

Many people are still dirt poor. Especially on the Land can feed the peasants from their Crops is hardly sufficient. The average income is about 1,200 US dollars in the year. No wonder, Because the initial situation was catastrophic. The reign of terror of the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979, the wanted to lead the country back to the stone age. Over two million people were murdered or died of starvation and disease. Then the year long civil war that ended in the mid-1990s.

One of the events in the framework of the WEF in Phnom Penh

The heart of ASEAN

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In the capital there is little to see of the past. There are modern cafes that serve Baguette or Macarons; US-Fast Food chains are scattered all over the city. The offer mixes with the of the many street food stands, the small plastic tables, house-made Asian specialities.

“It is much easier to establish in Cambodia a company in Vietnam or in Thailand,” stresses Ratana Phurik-Callebaut, Director of the European chamber of Commerce in Cambodia. Only 2000 US dollars would have to be deposited in a Bank as a guarantee and then it can go already. Companies may be 100 percent foreign-owned. “We have a good location, we are in the heart of the ASEAN.” ASEAN is a 1967-based Alliance of 10 Southeast Asian countries.

Education is the key

Why are foreign companies still make a bow to Cambodia, has other reasons. Because the country is compared with neighbors Vietnam and Thailand is quite small. It has just under 16 million inhabitants. Many are poorly trained. “The Khmer Rouge have killed every teacher at that time, then the Doctors, the nurses, the accountants, and many more,” says Tassilo Brinzer, who is married with a Kambodschanerin. “Almost every family has suffered several casualties. A quarter of the population – and the Educated – have been virtually wiped out.”

The aftermath of this genocide are still being felt. In a number of buildings job offers for Qualified hang. “Good people are hard to find,” said the entrepreneur. Easier, however, to find employees for simple Work. It will probably take at least a Generation, marriage, the education level of the population was reasonably well.

The emergence of a middle class

Tassilo Brinzer heard the complaints, because, he heads the working group for the German economy. The has 28 members, including Porsche, Bayer and DHL. His colleague from the European chamber of Commerce sees an image problem for Cambodia. “Foreign companies don’t know much about the country. The only think of the past. But here we see even the emergence of a middle class,” she says, and mentions a couple of positive Numbers. The cellular density was 120 per cent, there are four million Facebook users and the population was very young.

Campaign for the release of imprisoned human rights activists in Phnom Penh

Poor governance

The world economic forum (WEF) Asia from 10. to 12. May, meets in Phnom Penh, is generally regarded as a success by Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled for 32 years, the country with an iron Hand. Liberal economic course has the growth. Critics still see no reason to Cheer. You speak of human rights violations and increasing corruption. In June, Hun sets Sen up for re-election. He sees his country continues to be on the side of China. Politically as well as economically. In the global competitiveness report of the world economic forum Cambodia is criticized. “Poor governance and lack of transparency” is out of the question.

In the city center of Phnom Penh Welcome to the Delegates of the World Economic Forum on Asia are still hung huge posters: “.”