Export Competitiveness key to Cambodia’s rice industry

• May 13, 2020

The Ministry of Commerce and development partner – CAVAC (Cambodia Agriculture Value Chain Programme) – have reviewed a study on rice export cost, aiming to enhance the competitiveness of Cambodia’s rice export.

The discussion was held under the chairmanship of Sok Sopheak, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Commerce with representatives from CAVAC and Cambodia Rice Federation.

The project of Cambodian rice production and export cost study was proposed by the Ministry of Commerce with technical and financial support from CAVAC.

It is aimed at identifying and eliminating challenges as well as explore the possibility of strengthening the current competitiveness of Cambodian rice sector.

The study particularly focused on the competitiveness of Cambodia’s rice sector by analysing the value chain of the sector, from cultivation, drying and milling to exporting, including shipping and document processing, to target countries (import) in the EU and other countries.

The report will be released to the private sector and other relevant ministries and institutions to map out Cambodia’s rice development plans and policies so as to reach out to more foreign markets.

As of April this year, Cambodia exported 300,252 tonnes of rice to foreign markets, up 48 percent compared to the same period last year.

Last year, approximately 7.9 million tons of wet season paddy rice were harvested in 2019 while the milled rice export was reported at 620,106 tons, registering a  year-on-year decrease of about 1 percent.

Cambodia’s milled rice were shipped to 59 countries by 89 rice-exporting companies last year. Chea Vannak/AKP

Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50722719/export-competitiveness-key-to-cambodias-rice-industry/