Synopsis: Vietnam remains among the top five foreign investors in Cambodia with investments covering a wide range of sectors including agriculture, telecommunications, banking and finance, food processing, etc.
Cambodia and Vietnam have reaffirmed their longstanding commitment to deepening economic cooperation by setting an ambitious goal of raising bilateral trade to $20 billion over the next few years.
The announcement came during the Vietnam-Cambodia Business Connectivity Conference 2025, held in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday.
The high-level event brought together more than 200 business leaders and senior officials from both countries, including representatives from the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce. It was jointly organised by the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC), the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Vietnam-Cambodia Business Federation Association.
Kith Meng, President of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council-Cambodia, led the Cambodian business delegation. In his remarks, he highlighted the steady growth of bilateral trade and Vietnam’s growing role as one of Cambodia’s most important economic partners.
“Vietnam remains among the top five foreign investors in Cambodia, with over 200 projects valued at nearly $3 billion,” said Meng. “These investments cover a wide range of sectors including agriculture, telecommunications, banking and finance, food processing, mining, aviation, and tourism.”
He encouraged Vietnamese enterprises to continue exploring opportunities in Cambodia, particularly in areas aligned with Cambodia’s economic diversification strategy. “This conference is not only a platform for dialogue but a space to build real business partnerships that can create long-term impact for both economies,” he added.
Meng also emphasised the importance of private sector cooperation in achieving the trade target. He noted that ongoing reforms in Cambodia, improved logistics connectivity, and trade facilitation efforts are creating new opportunities for investors and exporters from both sides.
Leng Rithy, Chairman of the Vietnam-Cambodia Business Association (VCBA), echoed those sentiments. He expressed confidence that the close attention and coordination between the governments of both countries would continue to drive trade and investment momentum. He also praised the CCC’s role in strengthening business links and called for enhanced cross-border cooperation between enterprises.
“We are seeing more Vietnamese companies succeed in Cambodia, and we hope that more Cambodian businesses will invest in Vietnam as well,” said Rithy. “Together, we can turn our shared strengths into mutual growth.”
Trade between Cambodia and Vietnam has seen strong growth in recent years. In 2024, bilateral trade surpassed $10 billion, marking a significant 53.34 percent increase from the previous year.
The General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) reported that bilateral trade between Cambodia and Vietnam reached $4.34 billion during the first half of 2025, marking a 7.2 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Cambodian exports to Vietnam totalled $2.19 billion, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 8.2 percent. Meanwhile, imports from Vietnam amounted to $2.14 billion, up 6.3 percent from the previous year, the report said.
Officials from both sides believe the $20 billion target is achievable through stronger business linkages, improved trade facilitation, and targeted investment promotion.
With strong political will and a shared vision for regional prosperity, Cambodia and Vietnam are entering a new phase of economic partnership — one focused on sustainable trade, investment-led growth, and deeper integration within the ASEAN region.
