Word is going around Phnom Penh about fresh movement over in Kampong Speu province. Local officials recently revealed that more than 40 Chinese companies have expressed interest in making scouting trips out there, looking to explore investment opportunities, set up shop, or expand existing factories.
Kampong Speu isn't far from the capital. Anyone driving down the highway knows the scene: endless container trucks hauling freight, lined with rows of worker rental rooms and humble rice stalls. Over the past few years, a steady stream of manufacturers has moved out that way, drawn by cheaper land and lower labor costs. If this latest batch of 40-plus firms actually follows through on their visits, land rents and roadside commerce along the strip could be in for another boom.
Anyone who has lived around here long enough knows there is a big gap between a company saying they want to do a scouting trip and actually dropping real cash to break ground. Still, even the preliminary buzz gives local guesthouse owners and tea stall operators something to look forward to. As long as those factory floors open up and night-shift workers start trickling out into the dark, the street vendors will have plenty of business to keep them going.
