Ride-hailing firm Grab launches service in Cambodia; expands service to eighth country in the region

Ride-hailing firm **Grab**, the biggest Southeast Asian rival of Uber Technologies Inc, on Tuesday said it has launched services in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, expanding its presence to an eighth country in the region. [caption id=“attachment_2428912” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image[/caption] The Singapore-headquartered firm said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia’s Ministry of Public Works and Transport to support infrastructure development. The launch marks the latest development in a quick-moving industry, coming just three months after Uber likewise began services in what the World Bank ranks as the sixth-fastest expanding economy. In October, **Grab secured $700 million in debt financing** to expand its fleet and signed an exclusive partnership with Singapore public transport operator SMRT. Earlier this month, Singapore taxi firm ComfortDelGro Corp Ltd bought 51 percent of Uber-owned car rental business Lion City Holdings. Before the launch of ride-hailing services in Phnom Penh, transportation included public buses and taxis as well as unmarked, unmetered taxis which hotels help to arrange for tourists. Motorcycle taxis and auto-rickshaws, or tuk-tuks, are also popular. Chris Brummitt, Uber’s Asia-Pacific head of corporate and product communications, declined to comment on Grab’s Cambodia launch.