PHNOM PENH: About 400 tonnes of premium fragrant jasmine rice will be exported in batches to Australia. Noted producer Amru Rice Company signed an agreement with Green Group, one of the largest and most well-known food wholesale companies in Australia.
On March 6, Australian ambassador Derek Yip, joined Amru Rice co-founder and CEO Song Saran at the company’s Phnom Penh processing factory to send off the first two containers of premium Cambodian rice sent to Australia under the deal.
Australian support made the deal possible. Through Australian-funded targeted initiatives to expand exports of value-added Cambodian agri-food products, in 2023 Amru Rice joined a trade promotion visit to Australia.
It received ongoing assistance facilitated by Australia’s Cambodia Australia Partnership for Resilient Economic Development (CAPRED) programme, which helped establish the commercial relationships for the deal.
“I congratulate Amru Rice on securing this long-term partnership. This deal reflects the deepening trade relationship between Australia and Cambodia, delivering benefits for both our countries,” said Yip.
“It provides Australian consumers more choices with high-quality Cambodian products finding a place on Australian supermarket shelves. We are helping Cambodian exporters access premium markets and driving strong and inclusive economic growth in Cambodia,” he added.
Amru Rice CEO Saran explained the importance of the deal.
“This partnership with Green Group marks an important milestone in Amru Rice’s expansion into the Australian market. We are proud to supply premium Cambodian fragrant jasmine rice that meets international standards and reflects our commitment to sustainable farming and value-added processing,” he said.
The Green Group visited Cambodia in 2024, later signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the company in February 2025 to commercialise Cambodian agri-food products, at a ceremony in Sydney presided over by Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul.
“To be successful in taking a food product to any market you need the exporter and importer to be working as a team", added Nelson Green, Green Group managing director. "The relationship between Amru Rice and The Green Group is an example of this. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Australian ambassador for his constant support and interest in this project."
Australia has supported the Cambodian rice sector for more than 30 years. through research on high-yield and climate-resilient varieties and better access to agricultural technologies and inputs.
This partnership continues today, focussed on strengthening in-country processing capacity, expanding export markets and promoting sustainable production practices.
In 2025 Cambodia exported a record high of 940,000 metric tonnes of milled rice, earning $602 million. The Australian rice market is projected to grow from US$5.7 billion (2024) to US$7.1 billion by 2033.
This is driven by rising demand for premium, organic and specialty rice varieties – areas where Cambodian producers like Amru Rice are strong. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
