PHNOM PENH, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian government on Friday approved a draft budget of 40,913 billion riels (about 10.16 billion U.S. dollars) for the government spending in 2026, up 7.8 percent compared to the 2025 expenditure.

The approval was made during a weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hun Manet, said a press release after the meeting.

The budget next year is equal to 18.85 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), it said.

"According to the projection, Cambodia's economy will achieve a growth of around 5.2 percent in 2025, and about 5 percent in 2026," the press release said.

The GDP per capita was forecast to reach 3,020 U.S. dollars in 2026, up from 2,858 dollars in 2025, it added.

Cambodia's growth next year will be driven by garment, footwear and travel goods export, tourism, agriculture, and construction and real estate.

The draft budget bill for 2026 still needs to be adopted by the National Assembly and finally reviewed by the Senate before being submitted to King Norodom Sihamoni for endorsement. ■