Cambodia will host an international motor show from Feb. 12 to 15, aiming to develop the country's auto industry and attract more tourists, officials said Tuesday.
Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said at a press conference that the demand for vehicles in Cambodia has remarkably increased in recent years thanks to better living conditions of the Cambodian people.
"The upcoming event will not only attract vehicle users in Cambodia, but also provide an opportunity for foreign investors to look into investment chance in the auto industry in Cambodia," he said.
Meach Sophanna, president of the Cambodia Motor Sports Federation (CMSF), said it is expected that some 40 importers of automobiles, motorcycles and spare parts will exhibit their products at the event, which will be held at the Diamond Island Exhibition Center in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.
"It will be the first international motor show in Cambodia," he said, adding that the CMSF will co-organize the four-day event with the Grand Prix International.
It is estimated that the annual demand for new cars and used cars in Cambodia is around 2,000 units and 20,000 units, respectively.
The Southeast Asian nation purchases vehicles mainly from Japan, South Korea, China, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, the nation imported 34, 534 cars and 261,177 motorcycles in the first nine months this year, up 88 percent and 130 percent, respectively, from a year earlier.