PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Manet has explained how Cambodia is proactively promoting trade with key partners, particularly the US and China. At the same time, Cambodia is negotiating to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), in order to diversify its export markets.
He shared the strategy during the opening ceremony of the Asean-Cambodia Business Summit 2026, held in Phnom Penh on Wednesday (March 4) morning, and themed “Transforming Asean: Innovation, Integration, and Industrial Evolution”.
The summit was attended by senior dignitaries, ambassadors, representatives of relevant institutions, the Asean Business Advisory Council and major international companies operating in Cambodia and across Asean, as well as experts from various sectors.
The prime minister noted that in the current global context, his government recently refined phase one of its Pentagonal Strategy to enhance competitiveness, diversification and resilience to accelerate national economic growth.
“Cambodia has an open economy and is an active member of the World Trade Organization. Cambodia has deeply integrated into the global trading system. The country has been and continues to actively and proactively promote trade with key partners such as the US and China,” he said.
“Moreover, Cambodia is pushing forward negotiations to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) with the aim of diversifying export markets, enhancing competitiveness and deepening integration into the global economy,” he added.
Manet highlighted that in order to capitalise on regional potential, the government has launched a special programme to promote investment in four northeastern provinces for 2025–2028, in addition to a special investment program in Preah Sihanouk province.
Kith Meng, chairman of the Asean-Cambodia Business Advisory Council and president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, noted that amid intensifying strategic competition among major powers which increasingly affects regional stability, Asean must strengthen market stability, maintain balanced trade relations and promote transparent economic cooperation to ensure sustainable growth and resilience against geopolitical shifts.
Cambodia, he added, is undertaking numerous efforts to further advance its economic integration.
“We are holding this summit at a critical juncture for the global economy. We are witnessing an era of intensifying strategic competition among major powers, as Asean navigates waves of pressure stemming from tensions between the US and China.
"Our shared responsibility is to keep Asean a stabilising force, a driver of dialogue, maintain market connectivity and ensure that economic cooperation continues to be guided by fairness, transparency and mutual respect,” he said. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
