PHNOM PENH: Cambodia and Brazil have agreed to promote bilateral agricultural cooperation, enhancing trade and investment between the two countries.

The remarks were made in a meeting held here yesterday afternoon between H.E. Dith Tina, Cambodian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, and H.E. Mauro Vieira, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, who paid a three-day official visit to Cambodia.

Both sides agreed to continue the bilateral cooperation and seek mutual understanding on investment opportunities for common development, especially to ensure food security and environmental sustainability.

In the meeting, H.E. Dith Tina highlighted the potential of Cambodia's agricultural sector, such as paddy rice with a surplus of about 6 million tonnes per year for processing for export, as well as other potential crops such as cashew, cassava, and rubber.

Cambodia is a member of ASEAN with a wide market and has trade agreements with China, which is an opportunity for investment in processing for export, he said.

H.E. Mauro Vieira said Brazil plans to establish the Brazilian Embassy in Cambodia in early 2024 and wishes to increase relations in all fields between the two countries – Cambodia and Brazil, especially on investment and trade.

He also informed the Cambodian minister about the official visit to Cambodia by the Brazilian agriculture minister planned for 2024.

Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mauro Vieira left Phnom Penh this afternoon after concluding his three-day official visit to Cambodia.