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Cambodia: Call to restrict overseas imports
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have called for increased restrictions over allowing imported products from abroad access to their domestic markets.
Te Taingpor, president of the Federation of Association for Small and Medium Enterprises of Cambodia, said imports without efficient control in terms of paying taxes affects local products produced at a high cost.
At the Industrial Development Programme 2015-2025, the government said it aims to increase local products because Cambodia is an agricultural country, rich in raw materials ripe for local production, Te said.
“Allowing products from abroad which are cheaper than local products in the form of exhibitions and selling those finished products in the local market is killing the local SMEs.
“I call on the ministries who grant licences for exhibitions of foreign products to strengthen conditions and restrict imports to make sure that all products imported for exhibitions in local markets have to send them back after finishing the exhibition or pay tax before allowing them to enter the country.”
Currently, there are two regular exhibitions held in Cambodia, one for local products and another for foreign products, mostly from Thailand and Vietnam.
The Ministry of Commerce said the exhibitions are not prohibited for foreign products because Cambodian products are allowed to be displayed outside the country. The ministry is strict about procedures on goods imported for display at the exhibitions.
“The exhibitions of products from abroad are made following legal procedures,” Ministry of Commerce spokesman Seang Thay said. “The ministry issues licences for exhibitions, so the ministry follows the procedures to control the imports from abroad to the country.”
“In exhibitions such as Top Thai Brand, most of the products are produced in Cambodia because those Thai companies build factories to supply the local market in Cambodia and some other products have been imported to Cambodia before, paying due tax. When there are exhibitions, owners just bring those items to display at the exhibitions.”
Regarding promoting local products, the ministry organises the yearly One Province One Product exhibition at which Cambodians have started to turn to for local products, both Seang and Te insisted, adding that fairness is a key player in promoting Cambodian products.
Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50701923/call-to-restrict-overseas-imports/