Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Cambodia is committed to initiating cooperation with Malaysia for various crops to create a more favourable agricultural market between the two countries.

Minister Dith Tina made this remark yesterday during his meeting with Datuk Eldeen Husaini Mohd Hashim, Ambassador of Malaysia to Cambodia, at the Ministry.

During the meeting, both leaders discussed issues related to agriculture and mutual interest, in particular the rice sector.

“They discussed at length Malaysia’s limited rice supplies and would like to discover possibilities of buying more rice from Cambodia,” read a statement from the Malaysian Embassy.

The two sides agreed in principle to pave the way for Malaysian investors to invest in mango, pineapple and sugarcane production in Cambodia, according to a press release issued by the Ministry.

For this investment, Tina encouraged Malaysian investors to look towards the production and export chain in Cambodia.

“As for agricultural products export, the Minister encouraged investors to consider making contracts with Cambodian farmers, so that they can grow crops in line with the demand in Malaysia,” the Ministry’s statement read.

Meanwhile, the Embassy said BERNAS, Malaysia’s state trading enterprise (STE) in the international rice market, will directly handle this issue.

“Prior to this, Sok Chenda Sophea spoke on the phone with Zambry Abdul Kadir, Foreign Minister of Malaysia, in obtaining more rice from Cambodia,”  the statement added.

Malaysia imports 30% of its rice, a staple diet of the country’s 33 million people.

Cambodian goods exports to and imports from Malaysia amounted to $111.853 million and $508.520 million respectively, up by 10.4% and 26.6% YOY, expanding the country’s trade deficit with Malaysia by 32.6% to $396.667 million.

Cambodia’s exports accounted for 18.3% share of the bilateral trade, down by 2.11% on a yearly basis, according to the general department of customs and excise. However, potential growth has been predicted in the future.

Malaysia had a large net trade with Cambodia in the export of textiles, mineral products and metals.

Cambodia, meanwhile, had a large net trade with Malaysia in the export of textiles, vegetable products, plastics and rubber.

Malaysia was Cambodia’s 16th largest trading partner for three consecutive years in 2022, accounting for 1.18% of the global trade total of $52.425 billion, up by 0.14% YOY.

During the visit to Cambodia in March this year, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim pledged that Malaysia will expand bilateral trade with Cambodia to $620 million.