When Richard Stanger first travelled to Cambodia 18 years ago, the only mining activity was artisanal, roads were sparse and telecommunications were limited. The Australian-based president of the Cambodian Association of Mining Exploration Companies (CAMEC) says the “incredible development and uplift” over the past two decades has exposed previously untapped potential for mining equipment, technology and services (METS) companies to take advantage of an emerging mining sector.
Speaking as a panelist on an Australian government-organised Cambodia Mining Opportunities webinar, Stanger, who is vice president Asia Australia at consultancy Jamieson Group, said Cambodia was coming into the world’s economic spotlight. Its stable economy “running at about 7% GDP growth for about 10 years” (ahead of a COVID-related contraction); mining-friendly legal framework; and pro-development government focused on diversifying revenue away from traditional industries such as garment manufacturing and agriculture, was opening doors for increased foreign investment.