Pact Sees Leap in Rice Exports to Philippines
Cambodia has exported rice to the Philippines twice before, with 300 tonnes in 2020 and 100 tonnes in 2021, Cambodia Rice Federation president Chan Sokheang said on June 26 at the inauguration of the rice exports to the Philippines. Photo: Ministry of Commerce
- By Nhoek Samoun
- June 28, 2023 6:21 PM
PHNOM PENH – Cambodia has exported a record 2,575 tonnes of rice to the Philippines after an agreement between both countries was signed last week.
Cambodia has exported rice to the Philippines twice before, with 300 tonnes in 2020 and 100 tonnes in 2021, Cambodia Rice Federation president Chan Sokheang said on June 26 at the inauguration of the rice exports to the Philippines.
Sokheang said the Khmer Food Group was responsible for the latest exports.
On June 15, Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak said the export plan had been delayed due to misunderstandings about the Philippines’ regulations. However, both countries reached an agreement this year.
During the ceremony, the minister praised the cooperation between the federation and the Ministry of Commerce, especially the partner companies, for making this export possible.
Encouraging stakeholders to cooperate further to increase rice exports, the minister also asked Philippines Ambassador Maria Amelita Aquino to encourage more investment in Cambodian rice and increase imports.
Speaking highly of the improved commercial cooperation between the countries, she said this showed Cambodia’s potential to buyers and investors, as well as the country’s readiness to export rice.
Previously, Prime Minister Hun Sen told Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that Philippines’ investors could fully invest in building rice mill machines, rice drying machines, and warehouses to buy, dry and mill rice for export to the Philippines.
The Prime Minister added that Cambodian farmers could also plant rice in demand in the Philippines.
In the first five months of this year, Cambodia exported 278,184 tonnes of milled rice, generating $190 million, to 49 markets. The country also exported more than 2.1 million tonnes of paddy rice – of which 1.37 million tonnes were to Vietnam – which earned more than $545 million.
Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this story was translated by Meng Seavmey for Cambodianess.
