Cambodia and the European Union (EU) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening investment and trade cooperation, with a focus on improving business environment, enhancing logistics connectivity and attracting more European investors to the Kingdom.
The commitment was underscored during the 5th Cambodia-Europe Public and Private Sector Dialogue, co-chaired on Wednesday by Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Sun Chanthol, First Vice Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), and EU Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. Igor Driesmans.
The meeting brought together CDC officials, representatives of relevant ministries and institutions, the leadership and members of the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (EuroCham), and other private sector representatives.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Sun Chanthol highlighted the Royal Government’s achievements and strategic priorities in improving the investment climate and facilitating trade, stressing the importance of close cooperation between the public and private sectors in promoting Cambodia as an attractive investment destination.
He welcomed progress in logistics cooperation between Cambodia and Europe, describing improved supply chains and trade connectivity as essential factors in enhancing efficiency and strengthening the competitiveness of businesses.
Despite global economic uncertainties, Cambodia remains committed to attracting and promoting foreign direct investment (FDI) by maintaining a favourable, stable and predictable investment environment, he said.
The Deputy Prime Minister also updated participants on the expansion of the deep-sea port in Sihanoukville, with the first phase scheduled for completion in mid-2027.
The expansion is expected to reduce maritime transport costs by approximately 30 percent, providing a strategic boost to Cambodia’s international trade competitiveness and improving access to global markets.
For his part, H.E. Igor Driesmans expressed the EU’s support for the Royal Government’s efforts to improve the investment environment and praised the Cambodia-Europe dialogue as an effective platform for addressing business challenges and strengthening cooperation between government institutions and European companies operating in Cambodia.
He also welcomed the CDC’s plan to organise an investment roadshow across EU countries on behalf of the Royal Government, expressing the EU’s readiness to support the initiative.
He noted that the success of the investment promotion mission would ultimately be reflected in increased FDI from European investors, demonstrating growing confidence in Cambodia’s investment environment.
The EU Ambassador also highlighted the 25th anniversary of the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative, which has played an important role in supporting Cambodia’s economic growth, poverty reduction and socio-economic development.
He expressed optimism about future cooperation in preparing for Cambodia’s transition towards the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), which could provide additional opportunities to strengthen export potential and attract sustainable European investment.
During the dialogue, both sides reviewed key achievements and deliverables from the previous four sessions, exchanged views on ongoing initiatives and discussed action plans to address outstanding challenges and advance future cooperation.
The European business representatives expressed appreciation for the Royal Government’s attention to their concerns, particularly the coordinating role played by the CDC and relevant ministries and institutions in facilitating discussions and addressing private sector challenges.
They also welcomed the government’s willingness to listen to business concerns and engage in open discussions, noting that issues raised through previous dialogues had received effective responses.
