PHNOM PENH: Cambodia has exported its first batch of aquatic products directly to China, marking another fruitful cooperation between the two countries in the fisheries sector.

The shipment, made on Sept. 14, was made by Kim Chou Co., Ltd. Import Export and International Transportation, the first Cambodian company authorized to export wild aquatic products directly to China, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.

There are two types of exported fishery products: frozen eels and frozen freshwater shrimp with a total volume of 10 tonnes, the ministry's Spokeswoman H.E. Im Rachna said.

The first priority is to maintain quality in accordance with the hygiene and phytosanitary standards set by the Chinese Customs Administration to ensure that Cambodian fishery products can still be imported into the Chinese market, she said.

“Through promoting the export of Cambodian fishery products to the Chinese market, the ministry hopes that it will be able to improve the livelihood of our Cambodian fishermen and contribute to the national economic growth,” she said on Friday.

As demand in the Chinese market increases, the export of fishery products from Cambodia will increase and fish farmers in Cambodia will have more jobs, she added.

The export came after the General Administration of Customs of China in May allowed Cambodia to ship its wild aquatic products directly to China, and the company is allowed to export 11 kinds of Cambodian wild aquatic products to China, including shrimp, fish, eel, and snails.

Wild aquatic products are Cambodia's second agricultural products authorized to be exported to China this year after pepper. AKP