Cambodia has launched its first shipment of nuts and dried fruit to Australia through Royal Trust Trading Co., Ltd. (RTT). The shipment was supported by the Cambodia Australia Partnership for Resilient Economic Development (CAPRED) program, which has provided Cambodian agribusinesses with export readiness and market linkage assistance.
The inaugural shipment was marked at an event in Phnom Penh attended by representatives from the Australian Embassy, the Ministry of Commerce, RTT, and Khmer Enterprise. The shipment highlights growing cooperation between Cambodia and Australia to increase trade and improve the competitiveness of Cambodian agricultural exports.
RTT is exporting more than 12 metric tons of dried fruit and nuts to Australia. The shipment includes cashew nuts, dried mango, dried jackfruit, banana chips, and taro chips. A second shipment is already being prepared, with an expanded product range and larger volume.
Derek Yip, Ambassador of Australia to Cambodia, said, "Australia is partnering with Cambodia and Cambodian businesses to boost trade competitiveness and break into new markets. These efforts will help support Cambodia's ambitions to successfully graduate from Least Developed Country Status. They will also increase bilateral trade between our two nations. We are committed to deepening our economic partnership with Cambodia and facilitating Cambodia's integration into regional and global value chains."
Samheng Bora, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Commerce, stated, "Collaborative efforts to boost the export of Cambodian-made products are vital to advancing our agro-processing sector, especially in today's uncertain global trade environment. Thank you to the strong support of the Australian Government for making the export of Cambodian dried fruit to Australia possible. Along with the dedication of our government, private sector, and other key stakeholders, I am confident that our economic resilience will continue to endure and strengthen."
RTT Chairman Chhin Sophal said, "We are grateful for Australia's assistance and the Ministry of Commerce's support in making this achievement possible for my business. This shipment demonstrates the growing capability of local enterprises to meet global demand. We are confident that this is just the start, and that more Cambodian products will soon find their way onto Australian shelves and beyond."
Bilateral trade between Cambodia and Australia reached US$1.1 billion in 2024, with more than 70% of this value made up of Cambodian exports.
Source: Cambodia Investment Review