(Takeo): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet affirmed that the closure of the border with Thailand has not impacted Cambodia’s food security. He emphasised that Cambodia is fully capable of managing market access for its goods without relying on Thailand.

The premier spoke on Tuesday (Jul. 1) during the National Fish Day celebration and the release of approximately 1.5 million fish into Tonle Sap Lake, held in Bati district, Takeo province.

Samdech Thipadei said that some Cambodian agricultural products are now being exported directly abroad without the need to pass through or be sold to Thailand.

“When border issues arise and we close the border, I consult the Ministry of Agriculture, the provincial authorities, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. They confirm there is no issue. The cassava season has already ended. Even if the problem persists for another five to six months, we can manage internally. We are now directly exporting tens of thousands of tonnes to China. We have viable export routes and are fully prepared should this conflict continue. This is the result of our ongoing efforts,” the premier underscored.

While some agricultural products are not currently in harvest season, Samdech Thipadei assured that Cambodia remains self-reliant and capable of handling prolonged tensions at the border. He reiterated that Cambodian agricultural goods can be exported directly to other countries without needing to transit through Thailand.

Thanks to improved domestic infrastructure and connectivity, which links various regions across the country, Cambodia can easily transport and export agricultural products. This, along with effective government policy, has enabled the nation to withstand threats from Thailand, the premier noted.

At the same time, he called on the public to support Cambodian-made products, encouraging national pride to become a lasting value. However, he also urged producers to maintain high standards, adding that the public should not be expected to purchase substandard goods simply out of patriotism.
=FRESH NEWS