Cambodia Investment Review
A delegation of leading UK buyers from the rice, cashew nut, and dried fruit industries is in Cambodia this week to explore trade opportunities and strengthen direct business relationships with local agricultural producers. The mission, which runs from February 9 to 15, 2025, is part of the UK Trade Partnerships Programme (UKTP), funded by the UK Government and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC).
The initiative is designed to expand market access for Cambodian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by introducing them to UK buyers interested in high-quality, sustainably produced agricultural goods. The program includes business-to-business meetings, site visits to cashew processing facilities, rice paddies, and dried mango operations, and a networking event hosted by the British Embassy to Cambodia.
Strengthening Trade Ties Through Direct Engagement
According to Escipión Oliveira-Gómez, ITC Director of the Division of Enterprise Competitiveness and Institutions, the trade mission represents a crucial opportunity for UK buyers and Cambodian SMEs to establish meaningful connections. He noted that by fostering direct engagement, the initiative would create lasting trade relationships and contribute to Cambodia’s long-term economic development.
“This initiative will help transform trade and change lives by facilitating direct contact and fostering greater understanding between UK buyers and Cambodian agricultural producers,” Oliveira-Gómez said. “It is expected to strengthen trade relations between the two nations through a win-win approach, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.”
As part of the mission, UK buyers will meet with key Cambodian agricultural federations, including the Cambodia Rice Federation and the Cambodia Cashew Nut Federation, to gain deeper insights into local production capabilities, quality standards, and the potential for increased agricultural exports to the UK.
Opportunities for Cambodian SMEs
With agriculture being one of Cambodia’s largest employers, the mission aims to increase exports of value-added Cambodian products to the UK, ensuring that more of the economic benefits remain within Cambodia.
Dominic Williams MBE, British Ambassador to Cambodia, emphasized the UK’s commitment to supporting Cambodia’s economic growth through agricultural trade, particularly by encouraging higher-value processed exports that provide better returns for Cambodian businesses.
“My ambition is for the UK to play an important role in Cambodia’s continued growth, helping more people in this country secure well-paying jobs and improve their livelihoods,” Williams said.
He added that one of the UK’s key goals is to support the export of processed agricultural products, rather than just raw commodities, allowing Cambodian producers to retain a greater share of the final sale price.
“We are particularly keen for our buyers to explore higher-value processed items, as these ensure Cambodians keep a much greater share of the price paid by British consumers at their local shop or supermarket,” he said. “I very much hope that when I return to the UK, I will be able to buy my favorite Cambodian products from a wide range of stores.”
Expanding Market Access for Cambodian SMEs
The mission is a major opportunity for Cambodian SMEs to showcase their production capabilities, quality standards, and sustainable farming practices to international buyers. Among the participating companies are:
- Misota Food Import and Export
- Handcrafted Cashew Nuts Stung Treng (HCST)
- Signatures of Asia Co., Ltd
- Royal Trust Trading Co., Ltd
- Confirel
- Ample Agro Product Co., Ltd
- Kirirum Food Production
- SHE-Agro Cam Co., Ltd
- Amru Rice Cambodia Ltd
- Cambodia Agriculture Cooperation Corporation (CACC)
- Khmer Organic Cooperative
- Khmer Food
- Indochina Rice Mill Limited
Many of these SMEs specialize in organic and sustainable production, with Confirel and Ample Agro Product Co., Ltd focusing on premium processed food items. For these businesses, the UK market represents a chance to move up the value chain by shifting from raw exports to branded consumer goods that can command higher prices.
The UKTP initiative is also helping these SMEs navigate trade agreements such as the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), providing them with tools to increase exports, improve production quality, and meet international certification standards.
Long-Term Impact on Cambodia’s Agricultural Sector
The trade mission is part of a larger effort to integrate Cambodia’s agricultural SMEs into global supply chains, taking advantage of the growing demand for ethically sourced and high-quality food products in the UK and European markets.
With the right support, Cambodian SMEs can scale up operations, attract new investments, and solidify their position as competitive players in international trade. By fostering these connections, the UKTP program aims to drive sustainable growth in Cambodia’s agricultural sector, ensuring greater economic opportunities for farmers, producers, and exporters alike.
The mission underscores the UK’s commitment to strengthening trade partnerships with Cambodia, setting the stage for long-term collaboration and increased market access for Cambodian products.
