Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation H.E. Hem Vanndy joined a high-level panel at the Cambodia Agriculture Forum and Exhibition 2025 (CAFE25) on Nov. 13, speaking on “Supplying the Rising Domestic and Export Markets: Opportunities in Cambodia’s Agrifood Sector.”
Minister Vanndy emphasised that while agriculture remains a cornerstone of Cambodia’s economy, consumer expectations for safer and higher-quality food are rising rapidly, creating new opportunities for value-added agrifood development.
He underscored the importance of standards and quality assurance, noting that meeting market requirements is fundamental to boosting competitiveness.
The Minister highlighted the critical need for aggregation, enabling farmers and SMEs to supply consistent volumes that meet buyer specifications in order to achieve scale and higher value addition.
He added that attracting more local and foreign investment in food processing requires progress on many fronts, but stressed two key areas: strengthening contract enforcement—with support from the financial sector to reduce risks across the value chain—and promoting greater specialisation, whereby growers focus on meeting standards, processors ensure quality production and packaging, and branding and distribution are handled by specialised agencies.
The Cambodia Agriculture Forum & Exhibition 2025 (CAFE25) is taking place from Nov. 13 to 16 at Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Centre, Phnom Penh, featuring more than 400 booths showcasing Cambodia’s finest in agriculture, agri-food products, and cutting-edge agri-tech innovations.
