Evaluating the Competitiveness of Least-Developed Countries – The Example of Cambodia

Globalization, which has become a critical activity for many contemporary enterprises, is achieved primarily through collaboration and alliance with firms in different countries. In this respect, the government can play a vital role by providing an adequate infrastructure and competitive investment environment that attracts foreign firms to invest. The composite measure of a nation’s economy, technology, human resources and management, among other things, reflects the national competitiveness. Through a series of discussions with researchers in Southeast Asian countries, extensive literature review, and expert interviews, this study developed a comprehensive framework of national competitiveness for the least-developed countries, which is then used for measuring the national competitiveness of Cambodia. The results of this study indicate that Cambodia’s economic performance, technology development, human resources, and management capability are relatively poor, but its growth of industrial production and its favorable weekly working hours are laudable. A detailed description of implications for each category of competitiveness can be found in the study. Issues related to “black economy” are also mentioned in this study, which is useful for obtaining a full picture of the national competitiveness of Cambodia