Seven leading UK buyers from the rice, cashew nut, and dried fruit industries are visiting Cambodia from February 9 to 15, 2025, to explore business opportunities and strengthen trade ties with local agricultural producers. In the meantime, local farmers are calling for more support to increase agriculture product export.
Funded by the UK government under the UK Trade Partnerships program (UKTP) and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC), the delegation will connect with producers in Phnom Penh, Battambang, Siem Reap and Kampong Thom via business meetings, as well as site visits to cashew processing facilities, rice paddies and dried mango operations.
The program offers opportunities for face-to-face exchanges with key Cambodian producers and stakeholders.
Uon Silot, President of Cambodian Cashew nut Association, told CamboJA News that processed cashew nuts are exported to Japan, China and Europe. If the UK invests or imports from Cambodia, it will be a “good market test” and a positive sign for the cashew market in Cambodia, he said.
Cambodia mainly exports raw cashew products. In 2024, about 850,000 tons of raw cashew nuts, valued at $1.2 billion, were shipped to Vietnam, India, Bangladesh and others. Of these, Vietnam was the largest export, amounting to 795,000 tons.
“There are about 50 enterprises in Cambodia that produce and process cashew nuts, including six medium-sized enterprises. Our local enterprises are small and do not have enough working capital,” Silot said.
Another problem is the processing and production level of enterprises is still low. So, the introduction of a new market is “very good” for Cambodia, he said, but the main problem is that there are inadequate goods to meet market demand as enterprises lack working capital to buy raw cashew nuts to process throughout the year.
“The association wants banks to ease the requirements, and the government to strengthen the capacity of local enterprises to apply for loans, so that those cooperatives can have working capital to buy raw cashew nuts,” Silot said.
According to Escipión Oliveira-Gómez, ITC Director of the Division of Enterprise Competitiveness and Institutions, the mission will feature visits to prominent Cambodian companies and cooperatives, providing UK buyers with insights into local production capabilities and quality standards.
“This initiative will help transform trade and exchange lives by facilitating direct contact and fostering greater understanding between UK buyers and Cambodian agricultural producers,” Oliveira-Gómez said. “It is also expected to strengthen trade relations between the two nations through a win-win approach, in line with the sustainable development goals.”
A business networking event hosted by the British Embassy to Cambodia will connect UK buyers with Cambodian suppliers, including representatives from the Cambodian Rice Federation and the Cambodian Cashew nut Federation.
The trade mission underscores the UKTP’s commitment to strengthen trade ties with emerging markets. By facilitating direct engagement between UK buyers and Cambodian producers, the initiative aims to promote sustainable growth in the agricultural sectors of both nations, creating mutually beneficial partnership and expanding market access for Cambodian products.
Im Thida, a farmer in Battambang province, believes that the presence of companies investing in Cambodia is a good sign for the Cambodian rice market. Farmers are happy that they can have a better market, as the price of rice might improve.
“If there is no market for our production, farmers will not know where to sell their rice, and when they do sell, they get low prices,” she said.
She produces rice from 10 hectares of rice field and sells it to Amru Rice Cambodia, a company that would be engaging with the UKTP.
As a farming community member and rice seller to Amru where she is required to meet the standard operating procedure, she said there should be other companies that can “buy tons more rice” from farmers.
Presently, the number of companies which buy rice is limited, so farmers are forced to sell below market prices.
“The middlemen buy rice at lower prices than the company. If we don’t sell our rice, we will be ruined. So I want investors to contact the community directly,” said Thida.
Dominic William, British Ambassador to Cambodia, said agriculture is a major employer in Cambodia. Thus, as part of their goal, the UK is working with Cambodia to export more agricultural products to the UK.
Expressing delight that a range of UK buyers are visiting, he said they will be able to see for themselves the quality of Cambodian produce.
“My ambition is for the UK to play an important role in Cambodia’s continued growth, to help more people in this amazing country to secure well-paying jobs and improve the livelihoods for them and their families,” William said.
“We are particularly keen for our buyers to explore higher-value processed items, since these ensure Cambodians keep a much greater share of the price paid by British consumers at their local shop or supermarket. 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 over there,” William said.
The UKTP programme aims to boost trade from countries to the UK and the EU, utilizing the benefits of economic partnership agreements and the UK’s developing countries trading scheme. It works with small and medium-sized enterprises, government agencies, private sector organizations, and other stakeholders to facilitate trade promotion and capacity building activities.
Chan Sokheang, president of Cambodia Rice Federation, did not return calls on requests for comment.
Khim Finan, spokesperson of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, did not respond to CamboJA News via telephone and Telegram social app.
