PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s fisheries sector has reached a historic milestone as the government announced that the country is now ready to undergo an EU audit in 2026 — a crucial step toward exporting Cambodian fishery products to the European market for the first time.
The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of the Capfish-Capture: Post-Harvest Fisheries Development Project held under the theme “Cambodian Fisheries Development for Sustainable Growth”.
The six-year initiative, jointly implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the UN Industrial Development Organization (Unido) with funding from the EU, has transformed Cambodia’s post-harvest fisheries sector through modernisation, certification and strengthened food safety systems.
Agriculture minister Dith Tina praised the project for laying a foundation that would benefit the fisheries sub-sector for years to come.
“This closing ceremony is not the end of Capfish-Capture, but the beginning of its continuation,” he said.
“The success of this project shows the power of partnership and ownership — between government, the private sector and development partners,” he added.
The minister said the project contributed significantly to phase one of the seventh-mandate government’s Pentagonal Strategy, particularly in promoting sustainable agriculture, improving product quality and safety, and expanding market access.
He highlighted that the agriculture sector contributed 16.7 per cent to Cambodia’s GDP in 2024, with fisheries accounting for roughly 20 per cent of that share, and that fish production rose 10 per cent compared to 2023. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
