Includes steps involved in establishing a local office.
Last Published: 8/6/2019

Cambodia’s Law on Commercial Enterprise provides a comprehensive legal framework for the establishment and operation of businesses.  The forms of business organization include a limited liability company, branch office, representative office, partnership, and sole proprietorship. Investors not seeking (or who are ineligible for) investment incentives (see below), must register directly with the Ministry of Commerce.

Businesses seeking investment incentives must submit an application to the Cambodian Investment Board (CIB).  The CIB is an arm of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), which is responsible for accepting and reviewing applications for investment incentives pursuant to the Investment Law of 2003, as amended.  Sectors eligible for investment incentives include agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing-for-export, infrastructure development, international-standard hotels, and environmental protection activities. 
From the date of the application submission, the CIB has by statute three working days to issue a Conditional Registration Certificate or a Letter of Non-Compliance to investors.  A Final Registration Certificate must be issued within 28 working days of the issuance of the Conditional Registration Certificate.  A Final Registration Certificate may be revoked if the investor does not carry out an investment activity within six months of the receipt of all the required documents or the investor obtained a Final Registration Certificate through fraud or misrepresentation.  Upon receipt of the Final Registration Certificate from the CIB, the investor should prepare registration forms for filing with the Ministry of Commerce.  The Ministry of Commerce will issue the formal business license.
 

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