Phnom Penh (FN), Feb. 12 – Cambodian Delegate Minister in charge of ASEAN Affairs So Naro highlighted that Cambodian and Philippine governments will accelerate the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate increased exports of Cambodian rice to the Philippines.

Cambodian Delegate Minister in charge of ASEAN Affairs So Naro spoke on Tuesday (Feb. 11) at a press conference regarding the outcomes of Samdech Thipadei’s official visit to the Philippines.

According to Minister So Naro, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet encouraged Filipino investors to explore potential business opportunities and partnerships in Cambodia. He noted that last year, Cambodia attracted over 400 investment projects worth approximately USD 7 billion.

Furthermore, Samdech Thipadei urged Filipino businesses to import Cambodian rice directly and invest in modernising Cambodia’s rice value chain and marketing strategy for the Philippine market.

Minister So Naro stated that during the bilateral meeting between Samdech Thipadei and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., both leaders agreed to further enhance cooperation in this sector by capitalising on the complementary strengths of the two countries. On that occasion, the premier underscored the trade potential of agricultural products, particularly Cambodian rice, as a key priority.

In response to the prime minister’s request, President Marcos Jr. welcomed the proposal and pledged to strengthen collaboration between public and private institutions to boost trade relations, with a particular focus on food products.

As a result, both leaders decided to fast-track the signing of an MoU on rice exports under a state-to-state framework. They also reaffirmed their commitment to maximising cooperation in the agriculture and agribusiness sectors, with agreements set to be renewed during this official visit.
=FRESH NEWS