A senior Ministry of Commercial official told delegates from China at a two-day government-backed trade-facilitation workshop on Tuesday, by saying that Cambodia lacks the domestic processing plants that Cambodia’s products have not been exported directly to the end-market buyers. And most of agro-industry has been sold to neighboring countries such as Vietnam and Thailand.

It is reasons that Cambodia’s processed products is neither recognized nor rewarded adequately for its produce. Secretary of State for Ministry of Commerce, Mao Thora said that Vietnam exported 16,000 tonnes of Cambodia cashew nuts last year,

Cambodia has lost national income every year because of lack of processing plants to produce end-products to be exported to end-market buyers. Vietnam and Thailand bought cassava from Cambodia for $80 to $9p per tonne and sold to China from $190 to $200 per tonne.

Sen Sovann, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Deputy Secretary General, was quoted by the Post as saying that “I think if we’re going to discuss trade facilitation, we should consider pushing farmers produce directly the end-market buyer.”