Foreign investors are watching anxiously from the sidelines. Maybe he can provide some long-term stability. It's a hope probably shared by those Malaysian companies, which rank among the top investors, thoroughly entrenched in large Cambodian projects such as water and airport development, power plants, hotels and banks. Zakaria Ahmad of the Strategic and Security Studies Unit at the National University of Malaysia says most were prepared for the risks. They have always faced problems.
Most companies see no alternative other than to ride out the instability.
Singapore's Raffles Holdings has resumed work on two hotel projects. Over 30 garment factories are back operating. Slower to bounce back are tourism-related and service businesses. Last year, Cambodia drew about 220,000 visitors and was on course to woo 300,000 this year. Yet most hotels in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are deserted.