It is reported that Cambodia expects to attract investment valued at 60% of its 2006 estimated gross domestic product as mining and energy companies such as BHP Billiton and CNOOC Ltd scout for new resources amid surging commodity prices.

Mr Cham Prasidh a senior minister and minister of commerce said that the USD 5 billion economy expects USD 3 billion of investment in iron ore and gold mining as well as the energy sector. He added that 'We have still resources that are not exploited.”

Mr Cham said that “The Southeast Asian nation has ''large resources of iron ore'' as well as oil and natural gas.”

According to the Asian Development Bank, New investment will help Cambodia, which expanded at an average annual pace of about 11% in the four years ending 2006, to pull 36% of its 13 million people out of poverty. The economy will be the fastest growing of nine Southeast Asian nations this year.