SEOUL-Cambodia and the Republic of Korea are deepening their economic and technological partnership with a renewed focus on modernizing Cambodia’s agro-industry, according to an AKP press release.
The initiative took center stage on June 19, 2026, during a high-level working meeting at the Cambodian Embassy in Seoul. His Excellency Khuon Phonrattanak, Ambassador of Cambodia to South Korea, hosted a bilateral delegation led by His Excellency Hong Rada, Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, and Mr. KIM Young Chan, Director of the Korea Food Research Institute.
The discussions focused heavily on upgrading Cambodia’s domestic food processing capabilities by leveraging South Korean expertise and Official Development Assistance (ODA).
During the session, H.E. Hong Rada briefed the Ambassador on the steady progress of Cambodia’s Food Processing Center. Marking his second official study tour to South Korea, the Undersecretary noted that direct site visits to Korean food research institutes, factories, and private corporations have provided invaluable benchmarks.
The Cambodian delegation plans to integrate these Korean production models into the Cambodian Food Processing Institute to eliminate supply chain bottlenecks and elevate local manufacturing standards.
Mr. KIM Young Chan expressed gratitude to both the Ministry and the Cambodian Embassy for their strong historical cooperation. Looking forward, he requested the Embassy’s continued support in broadcasting the tangible milestones achieved through South Korean ODA projects in Cambodia, specifically within the agricultural and food processing sectors.
Ambassador Phonrattanak strongly endorsed the initiative, labeling the food processing project as a critical asset that addresses Cambodia’s immediate economic and food security needs. He committed the Embassy to actively promoting the successes of Korean ODA programs at future international forums.
As Cambodia looks to the future, Ambassador Phonrattanak emphasized that the nation must aggressively prepare for a structural shift in development. He urged a transition away from traditional, low-yield agricultural projects toward modern, tech-driven solutions.
According to the Ambassador, integrating automation, food science innovation, and modern technology is imperative to keeping Cambodian products competitive in the shifting global marketplace.
