PHNOM PENH: HE Prak David, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, yesterday met with a delegation from Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China, to discuss potential collaborations in the agricultural sector.

The meeting highlighted China’s keen interest in Cambodia’s agricultural products, particularly high-quality rice. The Chinese delegation expressed a desire to process Cambodian rice for both domestic and international markets.

Secretary of State David emphasized Cambodia’s potential for agricultural exports, such as mangoes, cashews, lentils, and noodles. He stressed the need for investment in processing, packaging, and logistics to enhance the value and competitiveness of these products in the global market.

Both sides discussed opportunities for cooperation in areas like industry, rice warehousing, rice processing capacity, technology exchange, and financial services for the rice industry. The Cambodian-Henan Cooperation Project Plan in the field of rice was a central focus of the discussions.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to exploring ways to strengthen the agricultural partnership between Cambodia and China.

the Cambodia Rice Federation announced this week that the country had exported a total of 412,023 tonnes of milled rice in the first eight months of 2024, earning a revenue of US$305 million. China remained one of the major buyers, importing 77,792 tonnes of Cambodian milled rice during this period.

The positive export figures demonstrate Cambodia’s growing reputation as a reliable supplier of high-quality rice to the international market. The ongoing collaboration between Cambodia and China is expected to further boost the country’s agricultural sector and contribute to economic growth.