PHNOM PENH: Bilateral trade volume between Cambodia and Japan reached a total of US$1.63 billion in the first 11 months of 2023, down about 7.9 percent compared to the same period last year.

From January to November 2023, Cambodia exported a total of US$1.06 billion worth of goods to Japan, down 0.3 percent year on year, a General Department of Customs and Excise report showed.

At the same time, Cambodia's imports from Japan dropped by 19.3 percent to about US$573 million, the report pointed out.

The Kingdom's main exports to Japan include garments, bags, footwear, furniture, paper, and leather products, while its imports consist of machinery, automobiles, electronics, furniture, fabrics and plastics.

The two-way trade is expected to be further boosted through the trip of Samdech Moha Bovor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, to Japan from Dec. 15 to 19, 2023.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet will hold a bilateral summit meeting with H.E. Kishida Fumio, Japanese Prime Minister, on the sidelines of the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation and its related programs in Tokyo.

Both leaders will discuss the strengthening and deepening of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Cambodia and Japan for more tangible benefits for the two peoples. They will also exchange views on regional and international issues of common interest and concern.

In addition, the two Prime Ministers will witness the signing of exchanges of notes on Japanese grant aid for three projects related to hydrography, water supply, and e-government as well as other cooperation documents in the fields of digital, banking, and energy.

Japan is Cambodia's fifth largest trading partner after China, the United States of America, Vietnam, and Thailand.