My vision on the Cambodian future is quite positive but very reserved.
There have been more investments in service sector as well as agriculture and mining. We can see significant increase of home building.
Living condition and life style have been better. We also notice more shopping centers, an indication of increased wealthy population.
Yes, we've seen those things. Every day and moment, things change. Nothing remains without change.
However, prices of goods have increased in an alarming rate. Rich people (mostly benefited from selling lands and houses) are ok with it, but the majority who don't have land or houses to sell are feeling bitter about the current situation and blame it on the government. That is because the government doesn't have a system to control inflation. Anything that is working well in Cambodia must be private-owned. The Government is a paralysed statue that just sits there allowing high ranking and powerful people to get rich and richer while the poors become less able to survive.
I think you have travelled once or twice to a few provinces. You can notice there are many huge plots of land but they aren't available. They'd rather keep the land useless than have it used. Matter-of-factly, in other countries people have to pay lots of money worth of taxes if they keep such one too many plots of land like that. Say, we don't have a culture of proper welfare system and law!!!
The current governement doesn't care much about the well being of its people. It only cares about strengthening partisanship and group power by encouraging more corruptions as a token in exchange with party loyalty and election's financial contributions.
A government without any accountability, ethical value, and authentic anti-corruption system is the most vulnerable one.
I agree with you. While they are trying to claim they are doing very good jobs at the moment, in fact it's only some good work. Besides that, it's all crappy causes. It makes people cynical, no longer skeptical about other people who might really want to help and might be more potential.
With the economy largely depending on the garment business that faces uncertain future due to possible recession in the US and the vulnerable governing system, Cambodia's future is very unpredictable and vulnerable.
Hmm...I think we want more than big garment factories developed in Cambodia...other kinds of productions should be manufactured too, but investors are off two minds by thinking there's no good future for their businesses or there's a better option elsewhere!
