Cambodia’s economy is enriched by the United States market, the largest export partner representing nearly 40 percent of all exports in 2023, generating over a million jobs in the Kingdom.
Disclosing this at Cambodia’s first US trade show themed, ‘US Food & Beverage Showcase’ held in Rosewood Phnom Penh on Thursday, Aleksandra Zittle, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Cambodia, said, “The Cambodian economy benefits from the US marketing being its largest export market, representing nearly 40 percent of all the country’s exports in 2023, creating over a million jobs across the Kingdom.”
Luu Meng, Founder of the Cambodian Chef Association and a Board Member of Cambodia Tourism Federation, among others, was also present on the occasion.
Zittle said, “The US is the fifth largest agricultural market for Cambodian products and US agricultural exports to the Kingdom have grown over 12 percent in the last nine years.”
The Kingdom’s food and beverage industry is incredibly vibrant and innovative hence there is room for continued growth as US ingredients will continue to be an important contributor to the successes of restaurants and the food and beverage sector in the nation, Zittle stated.
Zittle further said that the partnership of Cambodian importers who select to bring high-quality American products to the domestic market is crucial. “The US products are used in restaurants and hotels, which are important to the tourism industry while serving as ingredients for the Cambodian agricultural sector.”
“Commercial ties between the US and the Kingdom have always been important and agricultural trade is a key part of the trade relationship between the two countries,” she said.
On the exports of the garment, footwear and travel goods (GFT) sectors to the US market, the American Acting Chief underlined that exports of GFT sectors doubled from $5.3 billion in 2019 to $11.6 billion in 2023.
The ‘US Food & Beverage Showcase’ was organised to highlight a diverse selection of American food and beverage offerings.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) made the event possible with support from the California Milk Advisory Board, the Potatoes USA, the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC), the US Dairy Export Council (USDEC), the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) and the US Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC).
Additionally, the local distributors who contributed to the event include AusKhmer Import Export Co Ltd, Lee’s Foodservices Ltd, LSH Cambodia Pte Ltd, and Nice Blue Co Ltd, the statement added.
