PHNOM PENH, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's construction sector had attracted a total investment of 3.39 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2019, up 57.5 percent from 2.15 billion dollars over the same period last year, according to an official report on Wednesday.
Released by the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC), the report showed that the country had granted licenses to 2,047 construction projects during the January-June period this year, up 24.5 percent from 1,643 projects over the same period last year.
Chhan Sophal, director general of the MLMUPC's general department of construction, said in the report that Cambodia currently has 1,357 high-rise buildings (between five and 54 floors) and 259 locations of new towns and residential complexes.
Most of the high-rise buildings and new towns are located in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, he said.
According to the report, some 983 construction and home design companies are operating in the kingdom, generating approximately 220,000 jobs.
Construction is one of the four pillars supporting the kingdom's economy. Three other sectors are garment, tourism, and agriculture.
