PHNOM PENH, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC)'s President Kith Meng on Wednesday admired the kingdom for achieving a 5 percent economic growth despite facing domestic and external challenges.

"2025 was a year of critical point for Cambodian business both challenges and opportunities," he said during the CCC's annual general meeting in Phnom Penh.

"Those include the ongoing geopolitical tension, war between Russia and Ukraine, trade war, ongoing Middle East issues and Cambodia-Thailand border conflict," he added.

He said despite global headwinds, Cambodia's economy maintained a robust growth rate of 5 percent throughout 2025.

According to Meng, Cambodia has moved from a GDP of only 716 million U.S. dollars in 1980 to approximately 53 billion dollars projected for 2026.

He added that the kingdom's GDP per capita has seen a remarkable leap and is expected to reach about 3,020 dollars in 2026, gradually up from merely 300 dollars in 2000.

The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) said last week that the kingdom achieved 5 percent economic growth in 2025, boosted primarily by increased exports of both garment and non-garment products.

The NBC added that the economy is also forecast to grow around 5 percent in 2026, while inflation is expected to remain at around 2.3 percent despite heightened external uncertainties and persistent domestic pressures. ■