Synopsis: Mr Hun Sen urges Saudi Arabia to consider investing in agriculture and agro-industry, especially in processing agricultural products for export.
Cambodia and Saudi Arabia Tuesday expressed commitment to enhance bilateral relations by strengthening cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, and investment, as well as establishing direct flight connections between the two countries.
Strengthening of bilateral ties across various sectors dominated during a meeting between Senate President Hun Sen and Speaker of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Sheikh, at the Senate Palace in the capital.
Both leaders expressed their desire to enhance bilateral relations by strengthening cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, and investment, as well as establishing direct flight connections between the two countries.
Mr Hun Sen expressed his pleasure in meeting the Speaker of the Saudi Arabian Parliament, terming the visit as “an important step towards strengthening relations between Cambodia and Saudi Arabia, both at the legislative and executive levels”, said Chea Thyrith, spokesman of the Senate President.
Abdullah praised the continuously improving ties between the two countries and expressed his desire to see further progress through the exchange of high-level visits, which would help deepen bilateral cooperation.
Abdullah also emphasised the “importance of promoting relations through enhanced cooperation in the economic, trade, and investment sectors, which he considered key to driving these relations forward. His Excellency also expressed interest in Cambodia’s agriculture and tourism sectors. In the tourism sector, he noted that there are currently no direct flights between the two countries, and only a few tour companies bring tourists from Saudi Arabia to Cambodia,” Thyrith told reporters.
At the same time, Abdullah expressed a desire for both sides to strengthen cooperation in the tourism and agriculture sectors to further enhance bilateral relations.
Thyrith said that in response, Mr Hun Sen agreed with the Saudi Parliament Speaker’s remarks and emphasised Cambodia’s potential, particularly in the agricultural sector, which he encouraged Saudi investors to explore and consider for investment.
“Cambodia’s agricultural sector has significant potential that needs foreign investment. If Saudi Arabia is interested, it should consider investing in agriculture and agro-industry, especially in processing agricultural products for export. While Cambodia is capable of producing raw materials, we still lack sufficient processing capacity for export,” said Mr Hun Sen.
Taking the opportunity, Mr Hun Sen also highlighted Cambodia’s high-quality rice, which has attracted international attention for being chemical-free. He noted that Cambodian rice has received competitive price offers and has the potential to enter many markets. However, the main challenge remains the lack of processing facilities for export.
“In terms of tourism, I would like to see the establishment of direct flights between Saudi Arabia and Cambodia. This would not only bring Saudi tourists, but also attract visitors from the broader Middle East region, thereby boosting cooperation and promoting people-to-people exchanges,” Mr Hun Sen said to Abdullah.
Separately, on Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Hun Manet also met with Abdullah at the Peace Palace.
Abdullah praised Cambodia as a country with strong potential and noted that the Kingdom has outlined a long-term vision to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth, particularly through the Cambodian Vision 2050.
In response, Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed his appreciation for the growing relations and cooperation between Cambodia and Saudi Arabia, including the positive ties between the legislative bodies of both nations.
“With the aim of expanding trade between the two countries, relevant ministries and institutions in Cambodia have been actively engaging with their counterparts in Saudi Arabia to strengthen connections between the private sectors of both sides,” said Mr Hun Manet.
During the meeting, Mr Hun Manet and Abdullah also exchanged views and discussed ways to further enhance cooperation in several key sectors, including trade, agriculture, culture, tourism, and aviation.
Speaking to the Khmer Times, socio-economic researcher Chey Tech stated that this is the right time to focus on the Middle East, an oil-rich region with fast-growing economies and a thriving tourism industry.
“We have seen that major powers such as Russia, China, and the United States are expanding their cooperation and influence in the Middle East and are placing a strong strategic focus on this region. Likewise, the ASEAN region has also discussed and established a trade and cooperation council with the Middle East,” he said.
He emphasised that these developments present an important opportunity for Cambodia to prioritise cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, and investment. In particular, he highlighted the need to establish direct flight connections, which could help attract tourists from the Middle East and beyond, while also encouraging investment.
The two countries could engage in trade exchanges, especially through direct oil imports from the Middle East, which could help Cambodia stabilise both the price and supply of oil and gas for domestic use, Tech added.
