Economy overview: After four years of stable macroeconomic situation in the Cambodian economy in 1997-98. there was a sharp decline due to the economic crisis in the region, tensions in society and political infighting. Foreign investment and the influx of tourists have declined. However, in 1999, the first completely peaceful year in over 30 years, progress was made on economic reforms and GDP growth was 4%. GDP growth was projected to be 5.5% in 2000, but the worst flooding in 70 years severely damaged agriculture and high oil prices hampered industry, so growth is estimated at only 4%. The tourism industry is growing the fastest, in 2000 the number of visitors increased by 34%. Achieving sustainable economic growth after several decades of war is a formidable challenge. The population suffers from a lack of education and skills, especially in the province, where there is an almost total lack of infrastructure. Fear of a return to political instability and government corruption discourage foreign investment and delay foreign aid. See businesscarriers.com to know more about Cambodia Economics and Business. GDP: at purchasing power parity – $16.1 billion (2000 est.). Real GDP growth rate: 4% (2000 est.). GDP per capita: at purchasing power parity – $1,300 (2000 est.). The composition of GDP by sectors of the economy: agriculture: 43%; industry: 20%; services: 37% (1998 est.). Proportion of population below the poverty line: 36% (1997 est.). Percentage distribution of family income or consumption: per 10% of the poorest families: 2.9%; by the top 10% of families: 33.8% (1997). Inflation rate at consumer prices: 1.6% (2000 est.). Labor force: 6 million people (1998 est.). Employment structure: agriculture 80% (1999 est.). Unemployment rate: 2.8% (1999 est.). Budget: revenues: $363 million; expenses: $532 million, including capital expenditures of $225 million (2000 est.). Spheres of economy: production of clothes, milled rice, tourism, fishing, logging and production of wood products, production of rubber, cement, extraction of precious stones, production of fabrics. Growth in industrial production: no data available. Electricity generation: 147 million kWh (1999). Sources of electricity generation: fossil fuels: 59.18%; hydropower: 40.82%; nuclear fuel: 0%; others: 0% (1999). Electricity consumption: 136.7 million kWh (1999) Electricity export: 0 kWh (1999). Electricity import: 0 kWh (1999). Agricultural products: rice, rubber, corn, vegetables. Exports: $942 million (free on board, 2000 est.) Exports: timber, clothing, rubber, rice, fish. Export partners: Vietnam 18%, Thailand 15%, USA 10%, Singapore 8%, China 5% (1997). Imports: $1.3 billion (free on board, 2000 est.) Imports: cigarettes, gold, building materials, petroleum products, cars, automobiles. Import partners: Thailand 16%, Vietnam 9%, Japan 7%, Hong Kong 5%, China 5% (1997). External debt: $829 million (1999 est.). Economic aid recipient: $548 million in grants and soft loans in 2001 from international donors. Economic aid donor: Currency: Riel. Currency code: KHR. Exchange rate: KHR / USD – 3,909.0 (January 2001), 3,840.0 (2000), 3,807.8 (1999), 3,744.4 (1998), 2,946.3 (1997), 2,624,1 (1996). Fiscal year: calendar year.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications Telephone lines: 21,800 (mid-1998). Mobile cell phones: 80,000 (2000). Telephone system: satisfactory landline and/or cellular communication in Phnom Penh and provincial centers; rural areas are poorly covered by telephone; internal: no data; international: satisfactory but expensive landline and cellular communication with all countries is available from Phnom Penh and the largest provincial centers; ground satellite stations – 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region). Broadcast stations: AM – 7, FM – 3, shortwave – 3 (1999). Radio receivers: 1.34 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 5 (1999). TVs: 94,000 (1997). Internet country code: kh Internet service providers: 2 (2000). Number of users: no data.
Transport
Transport Railways: total: 603 km; narrow gauge: 603 km (1,000 m gauge). Roads: total: 35,769 km; coated: 4,165 km; unpaved: 31,604 km (1997 est.) Waterways: 3,700 km navigable all year round for boats with a draft of 0.6 m or less; of which 282 km are navigable for boats with a draft of up to 1.8 m. Ports and harbors: Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Kah Kong, Phnom Penh. Merchant navy: total: 295 vessels (of 1,000 tons displacement and over) with a total displacement of 1,305,932 gross register tons / 1,853,487 long tons of gross tonnage; ships of different types: dry cargo ships – 22, cargo ships – 237, chemical tankers – 1, combined dry cargo ships – 3, container ships – 8, liquefied gas tankers – 1, livestock ships – 2, multifunctional heavy cargo ships – 1, cargo-passenger ships – 1, oil tankers – 7, refrigerator ships – 6, ferries – 5, coastal passenger ships – 1; note: including foreign vessels registered here for flag of convenience reasons: Cyprus 3, South Korea 1, Malta 1, Panama 1, Russia 1, Singapore 1 (2000 est.). Airports: 19 (2000 est.). Airports with paved runways: total: 6; from 2438 to 3047 m: 2; from 1524 to 2437 m:2; from 914 to 1523 m: 2 (2000 est.). Airports with unpaved runways: total: 13; from 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2; 914 to 1523 m: 11 (2000 est.). Helipads: 3 (2000 est.).
Armed Forces
Branches of the armed forces: Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), consists of the army, navy and air force; formed in 1993 by the merger of the People’s Armed Forces of Cambodia and two non-communist resistance armies; note: Khmer Rouge and Royalist rebels were integrated into the RCAF in 1999. Age of enlistment: 18. Total Military Manpower: Male 15 to 49: 2,877,137 (2001 est.). Eligible for military service: men aged 15 to 49: 1,610,761 (2001 est.). Number of persons reaching military age each year: male: 162,643 (2001 est.). Military spending in dollar terms: $112 million (2001) Military spending as part of GDP: 3% (2001).
International Issues
International Issues International Disputes: Dispute with Vietnam over parts of the border; part of the border with Thailand is not defined. Illicit drugs: alleged money laundering operations; there is evidence that bribery by drug dealers of government officials, army and police officials is widely practiced; there may be a small production of opium, heroin and amphetamines; large-scale cultivation of hemp for the international drug trade.
