Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia (PPI), one of the region’s leading trading companies with an active interest in the sale of agricultural and food products across the global markets, is planning to import rice from Cambodia in the near future.

This came as the Cambodian delegation currently in Indonesia to attend the 38th Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) received a warm welcome at the PPI facility located in Central Jakarta on October 16.

Speaking to the delegation, S Hernowo, one of the top officials of the company, said PPI is planning to import rice from the Kingdom amid Indonesia and Cambodia bolstering its commercial ties encompassing various spheres including agriculture.

The trading giant is part of the Indonesian government-owned ID Food, which operates in the field of food exports, imports and distributions. The company has international offices across the globe and is planning further expansion.

During an interaction with Khmer Times, Arsyad Pahlevi, Export and Third Party Trading Manager at PPI, said the company is keen on expanding its cooperation and business ties with Cambodia’s agricultural sector. “We are currently looking at importing rice from the Kingdom. It could be Jasmine as well as non-Jasmine, but fragrant. We aim to import white rice that could be mixed with our existing stocks.

“We are looking at selling the premium Cambodian rice, which will be pure in nature while we also have the objective of mixing Cambodian rice with local rice varieties to explore market opportunities in the segment.”

Arsyad Pahlevi said that away from the rice factor, importing Cambodian spices is also on the cards. “We have black pepper in Indonesia, but we have international offices, where we can sell the varieties of Cambodian pepper. PPI’s agricultural ties with Cambodia will not just be for the Indonesian markets but also for the global markets, where we have our strong presence.”

Edhy Rizwan, Commercial and Development Director at PPI told Khmer Times that Cambodia’s agriculture sector has a bright future, provided the right investments are made in the logistics and agri-infra sectors. “Not only Cambodian rice, but all agricultural products produced in the Kingdom are unique and have the potential to succeed in the global market. However the Kingdom’s logistics sector and agricultural infrastructure need to improve further to catch up with others in the neighbourhood such as Vietnam or Thailand,” Rizwan said.

Lauti Nia Astri, Minister Counsellor at the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh, who is heading the delegation, said the bilateral trade ties between the two nations are at new highs. “As per the latest figures released in August 2023, the bilateral trade between Indonesia and Cambodia has crossed $700 million. This year we expect the trade volume to surpass the $1 billion mark, which will be a great milestone in bolstering commercial ties.”

The first hybrid edition of TEI will begin on October 18. It is an International B2B-focused trade show designed to foster the growth of export products and expand export markets.

To be held under the theme “Sustainable Trade for Global Economic Resilience”, the event aims to promote high-quality products made in Indonesia through a combination of onsite activities and online activities, reaching the global market. The event also seeks to develop business networks, attract investments, and showcase the best Indonesian products and services.