A delegation of leading UK buyers is currently visiting Cambodia to learn about high-quality Cambodian agricultural products.
Funded by the UK Government under the UK Trade Partnership Programme (UKTP) and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC), the mission will allow seven UK buyers to learn about agri-food producers in Phnom Penh, Battambang, Siem Reap and Kampong Thom.
The programme includes business-to-business meetings and visits to cashew nut processing plants, rice fields and mango drying operations, providing opportunities for face-to-face exchanges with key Cambodian producers and stakeholders.
Mr Escipión Oliveira-Gómez, Director of the International Trade Centre’s Enterprise and Institutional Competitiveness Division, said the initiative would help transform trade and improve livelihoods by facilitating direct contacts and fostering greater understanding between UK buyers and Cambodian agricultural producers.
“The initiative is also expected to strengthen trade relations between the two countries through a win-win approach, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.
Visits to prominent Cambodian companies and cooperatives will give UK buyers an insight into local production capabilities and quality standards. A business networking event organised by the British Embassy in Cambodia will connect UK buyers with Cambodian suppliers, including representatives from the Cambodian Rice Federation and the Cambodian Cashew Federation.
Dominic Williams, the British Ambassador to Cambodia, said the UK will play a key role in Cambodia’s continued growth by helping more people in the country gain access to well-paid jobs and improve their living standards.
“Agriculture is a major employer in Cambodia, so to support this goal we are working with Cambodia to export more agricultural products to the UK.”
“I am delighted that we are supporting visits from a number of UK buyers who will see first-hand the quality of Cambodia’s delicious produce,” said Williams.
“We are particularly keen for our buyers to explore higher value processed goods as these ensure that Cambodians retain a greater share of the price that British consumers pay in their local shops or supermarkets.
“I really hope that when I return to the UK, I will be able to buy my favourite Cambodian products from many of the shops,” he added.
The trade mission (February 9-15) highlights the UK Trade Partnership Programme’s commitment to strengthening trade relations between the UK and emerging markets. By facilitating direct engagement between UK buyers and Cambodian manufacturers, the initiative aims to promote sustainable growth in the agricultural sectors of both countries, fostering mutually beneficial partnerships and expanding market access for Cambodian products.
Notably, the UK Trade Partnership Programme (UKTP) is implemented by the International Trade Centre and funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
The programme aims to boost trade from developing countries to the UK and the EU, taking advantage of the Economic Partnership Agreements and the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme.
The UKTP works with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), government agencies, private sector organisations and other stakeholders to facilitate trade promotion and capacity-building activities.
