The article assesses emerging state reforms and key development trends in Cambodia, examining how recent infrastructure and digital initiatives reflect shifting approaches to economic governance and state capacity, as well as the opportunities and constraints these changes pose for the country’s longer-term development trajectory.
Focusing on projects such as the new international airport and the national digital payment system, it shows how the state has moved beyond regulation alone to coordinate capital, manage risk, and anchor economic activity within more formal systems. While these reforms signal a meaningful shift in development strategy, the article argues that their success will depend on whether they can operate effectively amid persistent informality, entrenched political–economic interests, and growing external pressures.
Cambodia's 2025 and beyond
New article by Kimhean Hok in East Asia Forum