Prime Minister Hun Manet yesterday met with a delegation from the Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF) and discussed key issues related to improving production quality, overcoming industry challenges, and expanding exports.
Mr. Hun Lak, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cambodian Rice Federation, briefed Mr. Hun Manet on the progress and work activities of the Cambodian Rice Federation in contributing to promoting Cambodian rice exports to the international market.
Mr. Hun Lak also briefed on the efforts and attention paid to the quality of Cambodian rice, the collection of rice from farmers, the preparation of drying, storage, and the export of rice to the international market.
Appreciating the efforts of the Cambodian Rice Federation in developing the rice sector, Mr. Hun Manet said, “The agriculture sector has played an important role in improving the livelihoods of citizens and the socio-economic development of Cambodia.”
The Prime Minister said, “The Royal Government continues to prioritize the rice sector, which is Cambodia’s long-term strategic crop.”
He outlined the necessary policies to support the rice crop and ensure the competitiveness of the Cambodian rice sector by building connectivity and transportation infrastructure and reducing production costs, as well as promoting the ownership of domestic supply chains and exports to international markets.
The Prime Minister encouraged the Cambodian Rice Federation to continue closer cooperation with relevant ministries and institutions to promote direct exports to international markets with high added value, as well as to provide technical training courses to farmers to improve product quality and increase productivity, and to promote the dissemination of the progress of Cambodian rice production.
Cambodia exported 575,562 tons of rice during January-November last year to 67 countries, earning a revenue of US$413 million, a slight decrease of 1.6 percent compared to the same period last year.
The varieties of rice exported include fragrant rice, organic rice, white rice, brown rice and japonica rice.
China and Europe are important markets for Cambodian rice, importing 109,448 tons of rice worth US$69 million.
The Cambodian Rice Federation has set an ambitious goal of exporting at least one million tons of rice by 2025.
