AKP Phnom Penh, June 17, 2025 --

Following a decade of significant growth and reform in Cambodia's rice sector, Minister of Commerce H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul has outlined crucial recommendations for the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), exporting companies, and all relevant stakeholders to ensure continued prosperity and international competitiveness.

H.E. Minister made the recommendations at the opening ceremony of the 10th CRF Anniversary celebration held here on June 16.

The recommendations include:

1. Examine the possibility of attracting more investors to invest in production and improve the added value of the quality of the rice production chain to serve the domestic market supply and increase Cambodia's competitiveness in international trade.

2. Engage in business operations in accordance with applicable laws, adhere to ethical codes, transparently supply competitive rice, protect the interests of stakeholders, and increase the credibility of Cambodian rice in the national and international markets.

3. Participate in promoting and protecting brands and intellectual property, especially building collective brands and strengthening the quality of Cambodian rice, taking into account the quantity, quality, safety, and aesthetics of packaging according to proper standards to maintain the reputation of Cambodian rice and the sustainability of exports.

4. Continue to cooperate with relevant departments of the Ministry of Commerce, especially Green Trade, the Export Promotion Team, and relevant partners in implementing measures to improve efficiency and quality to strengthen existing markets and expand new markets, with the aim of increasing domestic supply and promoting rice exports to international markets.

5. Modernise the operational structure, work procedures and processes, and the federation's statutes, etc., especially in conjunction with the upcoming election of the federation's president, chairman, and board members.

On the occasion, H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul expressed deep appreciation to the CRF and all stakeholders for their notable achievements over the past decade. She underscored the importance of rice as Cambodia’s strategic crop—not only as a vital staple for food security and nutrition, but also as a high-potential export commodity. Rice, she noted, is among the priority agricultural products targeted for export expansion.

Thanks to the concerted efforts of the Royal Government, the CRF, development partners, and other relevant stakeholders, Cambodia has successfully become a nation with a substantial rice surplus for export, she added.

In 2025, the Ministry of Commerce has actively promoted and signed a memorandum of understanding to export 500,000 tonnes of milled rice to China. In addition, Cambodia has opened new export markets through the state-run Green Trade company, securing agreements to export 37,500 tonnes to Indonesia and 4,000 tonnes to Timor-Leste, H.E. Minister pointed out.

Last year, Cambodia exported approximately 651,000 tonnes of milled rice and over 5.1 million tonnes of paddy rice, generating more than US$1.98 billion in revenue.

By Chea Vannak