The EuroCham Cambodia White Book 2027: a compass for the Kingdom’s economic reforms
- Editorial team
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
The European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (EuroCham) unveiled this month the fifth edition of its White Book, a reference document compiling 77 economic policy recommendations addressed to the Royal Government of Cambodia. With each edition, the publication has established itself as one of the most concrete tools for public-private dialogue in the Kingdom.
A structured dialogue with Phnom Penh
Founded in 2011, EuroCham Cambodia brings together the interests of European businesses operating in Cambodia. Its White Book is not a simple memorandum: it is the result of hundreds of hours of consultations conducted within 12 sectoral committees comprising more than 150 active members. Transport and logistics, taxation and governance, health, digital, real estate, agriculture, tourism, textile industry, green energy… each sector contributes its analysis of regulatory bottlenecks and its proposals for practical solutions.
“Each recommendation in the White Book is based on a real practical issue and proposes public policy solutions that can be implemented by the relevant authorities in the short or medium term,” the document’s methodology states.
Measurable results
What distinguishes EuroCham’s White Book from simple advocacy is its traceability. The chamber closely tracks the progress of each recommendation and reports on it publicly. Of the 78 recommendations made in the 2024 edition, 9 — or 12% — have been fully resolved, 6 partially, and 46 formally acknowledged by the Cambodian authorities. Only 17 recommendations have received no response to date.
Notable progress includes the official ban on asbestos in the construction sector, announced in 2025, as well as the relaxation of overtime regulations by the Ministry of Labour. Modest victories, one might say, but they demonstrate a methodology that delivers results.
In 2025, EuroCham organized 56 committee meetings and held 29 direct meetings with government representatives, in addition to the biannual Cambodia–EU public-private dialogues, co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol.
An economy at a crossroads
The White Book 2027 comes at a time of profound transformation for Cambodia. The country is preparing to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, which will lead to the gradual loss of unilateral trade preferences it has benefited from — notably under the EU’s GSP scheme. This transition requires economic upgrading, which European businesses strongly advocate.mique que les entreprises européennes appellent de leurs vœux.
Tassilo Brinzer, Chairman of EuroCham, states clearly in his introductory message:
“To remain competitive, Cambodia must diversify its economy, integrate ESG standards, simplify administrative procedures, accelerate the adoption of renewable energy, and modernize its logistics infrastructure.”
The fight against bureaucracy is central in this edition. EuroCham has developed a tool to track administrative burdens — the Red Tape Tracking Tool — integrated into its Advocacy Compass, to precisely identify regulatory bottlenecks that increase companies’ compliance costs.
Twelve sectors, 77 recommendations
Among the new proposals in this edition are the regulation of digital assets, the establishment of a tax framework for collective investment funds, the harmonization of customs procedures, the creation of a renewable energy certificate, and the regulation of the digital health landscape.
These themes reflect the growing sophistication of the Cambodian economy and the increasing expectations of foreign investors.The tourism sector introduces new recommendations on quality standards and sectoral data collection, while agribusiness advocates for better regulation of contract farming and the elimination of prohibited substances in animal production.
A tool serving all stakeholders
While the White Book is primarily intended for the Cambodian government, its usefulness extends beyond that audience. For European companies considering entering Cambodia, it provides an unmatched overview of the local regulatory environment: its strengths, blind spots, and friction points.
For investors and analysts, it offers a structured reading of sectoral dynamics.For development partners — the 2027 edition is co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development — it demonstrates the European private sector’s commitment to the Kingdom’s economic transformation.
Printed on recyclable paper in Phnom Penh, the EuroCham Cambodia White Book 2027 is available in digital format on the chamber’s website: eurocham-cambodia.org.
EuroCham Cambodia was inaugurated on June 2, 2011, with the support of three founding organizations: the France Cambodia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFC), German Business Cambodia (GBC), and the British Chamber of Commerce (BritCham). It now includes six founding member organizations.