In an exclusive with His Excellency Salah Essa, Honorary Consul of Cyprus to Cambodia, we uncover how two countries, thousands of kilometers apart, are finding common ground in trade, tourism, and cultural exchange. From a new sister city pact between Larnaka and Phnom Penh to business matchmaking and student exchanges, Salah Essa shares how Cyprus and Cambodia are writing a fresh chapter in diplomacy—one focused on opportunity, trust, and mutual growth.
This year marks a key milestone in that journey: the Honorary Consulate of Cyprus to Cambodia is organizing a ceremony on May 16th in Phnom Penh to celebrate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Cyprus and Cambodia. The event highlights the enduring friendship and expanding cooperation between the two nations.
In this candid conversation, Essa explains why Cambodia is becoming a rising star in Southeast Asia and how Cypriot investors can tap into its booming economy. He also reveals efforts to connect the tourism industries of both nations, promote direct air links, and encourage joint ventures in fast-growing sectors like green energy, healthcare, and digital innovation. It’s a glimpse into a dynamic, untold story of international cooperation—one that’s just getting started.
Revealing the opportunities that lie within the nations.
Q1: Since the inception of the Honorary Consulate, how has it strengthened the ties between Cyprus and Cambodia?
Salah Essa: The Honorary Consulate of Cyprus to Cambodia was formally established in 2023, but our foundational efforts began in 2022. We have facilitated high-level working delegations, fostering government and business engagements between the two nations. A significant milestone was the twin sister city agreement between Phnom Penh and Larnaka Municipality, solidifying diplomatic and economic collaboration. Additionally, our support for the Girl Guide Association of Cambodia’s visit to Cyprus, led by First Lady Dr. Pich Chanmony Hun Manet, has strengthened youth and cultural ties. These initiatives exemplify our commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation across trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges.
Meeting with Mr. Stavros Stavrou, President of Cyprus Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Q2: Cambodia is emerging as a rising economic force in ASEAN. What opportunities does it offer to Cypriot investors and to EU member states?
Salah Essa: Cambodia’s strategic location, peace, and economic stability under the leadership of Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet make it an attractive investment hub. Its liberal investment climate, 100% foreign ownership allowance, and the Everything But Arms Agreement (EBA) as well as the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) provide endless businesses with a unique gateway into a market of more than a billion consumers within these two regions. Sectors such as infrastructure, logistics, renewable energy, finance, education, pharmaceuticals, hospitality, and agribusiness are primed for Cypriot expertise. With major projects like the Techo International Airport and the Funan Techo Canal, Cambodia is evolving into a pivotal trade and logistics hub in ASEAN, offering Cypriot investors a strategic edge.
Q3: Tourism is a key pillar for both nations. How can Cambodia and Cyprus collaborate in this sector?
Salah Essa: Both Cambodia and Cyprus boast UNESCO-listed heritage sites and a thriving tourism industry, making them natural partners in hospitality, travel, and cultural exchange. Cambodia’s Angkor Wat and pristine ecotourism sites complement Cyprus’s Mediterranean appeal. We are actively working on enhancing direct flight connectivity, strengthening tourism synergies, and promoting joint investment in hospitality infrastructure. With the expansion of Cambodia’s air transport capacity, including the Techo International Airport, we foresee a future where Cyprus and Cambodia are better connected, unlocking unprecedented tourism growth.
Firm shake with Mr. Thanos Michealides, President of Cyprus Hotel Association.
Q4: Which emerging sectors in Cambodia hold the most promise for Cypriot businesses?
Salah Essa: Beyond traditional industries, Cambodia’s digital economy, fintech, healthcare, education, and green energy are rapidly expanding. The country’s young and tech-savvy workforce presents opportunities in ICT and digital innovation. With support from organizations such as the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB), knowledge-sharing and human capital development programs can create a two-way flow of expertise. Professional exchanges, vocational training partnerships, and business acceleration programs can pave the way for deeper collaboration in these high-potential sectors.
Q5: Given Cyprus’s EU positioning, how can it serve as a gateway for Cambodian enterprises?
Salah Essa: Cyprus, under the President, His Excellency Nikos Christodoulides, presents a strategic gateway for Cambodian enterprises seeking access to European markets. Its position as a financial and business hub, coupled with a competitive 12.5% corporate tax rate, extensive double-tax treaties, maritime and logistic experts, and the key trading point of Limassol Port, offers significant advantages. Conversely, Cambodia provides a stable and investor-friendly entry point for Cypriot companies targeting the expanding ASEAN economy.”
With Mr. Theodoros Forides, Head of Consular Affairs at MoFA Cyprus.
Q6: What role do business chambers play in fostering economic cooperation?
Salah Essa: Business chambers are the backbone of international trade. In Cambodia, chambers such as the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce provide a structured network for business matching, regulatory support, and trade facilitation. Since 2022, we have engaged in active dialogues between Cyprus’s business communities and Cambodian counterparts, aligning economic interests and ensuring seamless commercial integration. Our goal is to establish joint business councils and trade missions to accelerate investment and economic ties.
Q7: How do you envision the future of Cambodia-Cyprus relations?
Salah Essa: Cambodia’s transformation into a potential ASEAN powerhouse, coupled with Cyprus’s strategic role as Europe’s southeastern gateway, creates a foundation for long-term prosperity. Through exploration of trade, tourism, investment, human capital development, hospitality, and education programs such as student exchanges, knowledge sharing, and cultural exchanges, our two nations are poised for deeper collaboration. Our vision is to strengthen and encourage institutional ties, foster more business engagements, and create sustainable partnerships that benefit both countries. Cambodia’s peace, stability, and visionary leadership provide the perfect conditions for Cypriot businesses to thrive, and our work at the consulate will continue to ensure these opportunities translate into meaningful growth for both nations, connecting and giving from people to people.
With the Minister of Agriculture – Her Excellency Dr. Maria Panayiotou
HONORARY CONSULATE OF CYPRUS TO CAMBODIA
Further reading about Cambodia:
Invest in Cambodia.
Tax – Everything About Cambodia.
Quarter Report of Consulate 2025
Contact: +855 70 666 045 / +855 12 992 070 (Telegram, WhatsApp, WeChat) E: info@cyprusconsulatecambodia.com. W: www.cyprusconsulatecambodia.com