PHNOM PENH: GS1 Cambodia, with the support of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce (CCC), hosted a significant seminar on Monday morning, October 13, 2025 (the 6th of Asso in the Buddhist Era 2569), under the banner “We support national products” or the “Khmer First: Supporting Local Products 884” campaign.
The event focused on the theme “Ready to sell Khmer products on the market,” with the primary goal of expanding Cambodian entrepreneurship by detailing the processes and requirements for introducing finished and semi-finished products into supermarkets and international markets.
The seminar was specifically designed to help local businesses transform and improve their quality, packaging, and adherence to market standards. This was achieved through the shared experiences, visions, and insights of expert speakers from various sectors, including retail, supermarkets, banking, marketing, and product standards.
The event was presided over by His Excellency Oknha Nguon Mengtech, Director General of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, who represented Neak Oknha Kith Meng, the influential President of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and Chair of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council-Cambodia. Attendance included approximately 150 people, comprising members of the CCC, barcode institutions, relevant associations, banking partners, retail partners, supermarkets, traders, producers, and businessmen.
In his opening remarks, His Excellency Oknha Nguon Mengtech stressed the seminar’s crucial importance for traders, enterprise owners, and business owners to effectively prepare for market demands. He highlighted the benefit of gaining real-world experience through presentations on the necessary procedures and conditions for promoting products to supermarkets and marts.
His Excellency Oknha Nguon Mengtech strongly recommended that all participants, including businessmen, traders, producers, merchants, CCC members, and GS1 Cambodia, must strengthen and expand their internal capabilities. This includes preparing financial and marketing plans and reinforcing quality standards and compliance. The ultimate goal is to develop products that are of higher quality, more diverse, trusted by consumers, and possess strong commercial potential in both the national and international markets.
During his speech, Mr. Arvid Swartsenburg, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Sathapana Bank, expressed that, “The ‘Khmer First: Supporting Local Products 884’ initiative is a vital project that showcases the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of Cambodian producers. Investing in local production plays a key role in contributing to and building a sustainable economy. Sathapana Bank is committed to being a partner—not only by bridging financial gaps, but also by offering comprehensive banking solutions to help home-grown Cambodian businesses thrive.
Beyond sharing knowledge, methods, and techniques, the seminar was also positioned as a vital opportunity for business matching and for actively promoting Cambodian products into supermarkets and marts. This effort aims to enhance competitiveness, foster a rich local business environment, and contribute to the creation of goods, services, jobs, and productivity. This initiative is in direct alignment with the Royal Government of Cambodia’s policy to more widely promote local products in the market.