On Friday, the Ministry of Commerce held high-level talks with three leading Japanese rice importers, focusing on Cambodian rice exports to the Japanese market.
Mr. Samheng Bora, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Commerce and Chairman of the Export Promotion Working Group, accompanied by the Deputy Secretary of State at the Ministry of Commerce, led the talks in Tokyo, Japan, with the aim of strengthening Cambodia’s presence in the Japanese rice market, according to a release from the Ministry of Commerce on Sunday.
During the meeting, Mr. Samheng Bora stressed the Ministry of Commerce’s commitment to expanding agricultural exports through the Export Promotion Working Group.
He highlighted the Royal Government’s efforts to align Cambodian rice with international quality standards and outlined a broad vision to boost trade relations and explore new opportunities for cooperation between the two nations.
“In response, Japanese companies have shown strong interest in Cambodia’s rice sector, recognizing its potential and expressing optimism in including Cambodian rice in their supply chains,” the source said.
The two sides concluded their discussions by reaffirming their joint commitment to promoting Cambodian rice in Japan and strengthening bilateral trade relations.
It is worth noting that Japan’s top three rice importers account for 80 percent of the Japanese market, including ITOCHU Corporation, the country’s largest rice importer.
Cambodia’s exports to Japan rose to $1.4 billion from January to December 2024, up 20.1 percent year-on-year, according to a report by the General Department of Customs and Excise.
Of the total trade volume, Cambodia’s imports from Japan amounted to $752.56 billion, up 19.8 percent year-on-year.
Speaking to the Khmer Times, Lim Heng, Vice President of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce, highlighted Cambodia’s strong presence in regional agricultural exports, noting that Cambodia has consistently supplied agricultural products including rice, cassava, corn and rubber to the international market.
He also highlighted that Cambodia’s import profile is dominated by consumer goods, food and beverages, and construction materials. These imports are essential to meet the growing domestic market demand and to support ongoing infrastructure development.
“Although Cambodia has made strides in processing some consumer goods locally, our production capacity remains limited, leading to a high reliance on imports, especially from neighboring countries.”
He acknowledged the challenges facing the Cambodian economy, especially when it comes to the trade balance and reducing reliance on foreign products.
In light of these challenges, he urged foreign investors to consider opportunities in Cambodia’s processing industry, which could enhance Cambodia’s domestic manufacturing capacity. By investing in this sector, Cambodia would not only reduce its reliance on imports but also improve the quality of locally produced goods.
“This strategy will allow Cambodia to better compete with imported products in the domestic market, and more importantly, it will boost our export potential, creating more opportunities for economic growth and diversification,” he added.
He stressed that strengthening domestic industries and improving the quality of Cambodian products are key factors in ensuring long-term economic sustainability and increasing the country’s competitiveness in the global market.
