Most prominent foreign influence in Cambodia

To start off the new year, the Southeast Asia Globe asked economists, teachers, politicians, and human rights experts to share the most pressing issues Cambodia will face in the coming decade. In 10 years, says The Asia Foundation’s Regional Director for Economic Programs in Cambodia Véronique Salze-Lozac’h, Cambodia will see a growing middle class; yet, she warns, the country’s economy is still too fragile to forecast an increase in business diversity and investment. Other experts predict there will be more farms and more processing capacity for export of final products in 2020 and that tourism, especially eco-tourism, will remain important for the economy. Moreover, China will be the most prominent foreign influence in Cambodia. Read the full article, published Jan. 12, 2010.