
The Cross Border Economy of Cambodia: An Exploration Study
Khmer PDF (8)
Abstract/Summary
This study attempts to examine four aspects relating to the
cross border economy of Cambodia:
a)
The overall regulatory
regime and evolving trade policy of Cambodia, including participation in
international trading arrangements;
b)
Specific policy issues
or strategies for development of cross-border trade, including participation in
regional trading arrangements, setting up of special zones or provision of
special privileges;
c)
Actual conduct and
performance constraints of cross border trade arrangements, using illustrative
case studies (e.g. garments trade, trade in shoes, vegetables etc.) with both
Vietnam and Thailand;
d)
The poverty impact of
cross-border economies at the local level.
Findings of the study indicate that: official and unofficial
costs of border clearance are rising, especially for small traders; credit
default risk has also increased in the face of increasing market competition
and lower margins; and personal links and trust have substituted for missing
institutions.
Generally, areas along the border with Thailand were found
to be much more active and to exhibit much greater impact, e.g. on employment,
earnings and poverty, than areas around the Vietnamese border. A drawback of
the study is that it did not explore negative or adverse impacts in any
systematic manner.