(Kandal): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said his 2002 master’s thesis at New York University examined land reform in Cambodia, arguing that land distribution should not rely solely on market forces.

Speaking on Wednesday (Jul. 29) at a land title distribution ceremony in Kandal province, the premier said unclear land ownership leads to disputes, weakens public confidence, and makes property transactions difficult. He underlined that the state must support the land market through clear laws, land administration, surveys, and title registration to ensure both efficiency and fairness.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet also said that a book titled “The Mystery of Capital” influenced his thinking on formalising property ownership, noting that secure land titles strengthen property rights, reduce disputes, and support household and national economic growth.

Cambodia aims to complete nationwide land surveying, registration, and title distribution by 2027. According to the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, 13,956,479 land parcels have been surveyed. The ministry has issued 9,641,857 land titles, or 86 per cent of all land parcels, with 8,765,419 certificates already delivered to landowners.
=FRESH NEWS