A trade fair was held in the past. Heng Chivoan
The Ministry of Commerce on November 28 reiterated that it will continue to hold trade fairs under the umbrella of the fifth season of its “Buy Cambodian Campaign” and create the synergy to rehabilitate the Covid-19-hit national economy.
The next fair is scheduled to be held from December 24-27 in Sisophon town, the provincial capital of Banteay Meanchey.
The ministry said the events are aimed at interconnecting all economic sectors and linking them to their counterparts across the Kingdom’s 24 provinces and its capital, and supporting the national economic development process.
It said the Cambodian products it selects to showcase at its fairs are high-quality, safe and are properly-packaged in line with standards from across the country, noting that it actively seeks partners to distribute them further and wider.
At the same time, it said it will work with the Inter-Ministerial Committee to Combat Covid-19 to ensure that the events are in compliance with the Ministry of Health’s guidelines.
“The ministry would kindly like to remind those who wish to participate in the Cambodian products exhibition to promptly sign up bearing in mind that spots are limited and the invitation was open to the public across the country,” the ministry said.
Commerce ministry spokesman Seang Thay told The Post that the trade fairs are intended to open the eyes of Cambodian consumers to the products grown and made at home.
He said the commerce ministry has reduced the number of booths at the events in compliance with the health ministry’s social-distancing recommendations.
“We drill into our producers that they must retain high-quality, safe and properly-packaged [wares] at an affordable price to compete with imported ones.
“This is part of our policy to promote local-made products and get backing from locals. And in the next step, we will help boost exports,” Thay said.
Keo Mom, the CEO of Ly Ly Food Industry Co Ltd, one of Cambodia’s largest packaged-food processing enterprises, chalked up the ministry’s push for domestic products over recent years as a success story.
“As far as I’m concerned, the Ministry of Commerce’s support in the campaign has garnered recognition for Cambodian products among Cambodians,” she said.
Voicing pride in her company’s continued support of the “Buy Cambodian Campaign” in buying local, she said the firm is considering entering future exhibitions.
“I hope that the Ministry of Commerce will campaign even harder for our Cambodian products to win over more people’s hearts with them and shore up the national economy,” Mom said.
Chen Sopheap, the founder and managing director of Keiy Tambanh Khmer (KTK), an association of traditional Cambodian silk-based product manufacturers, lauded the trade fairs as a platform to encourage local producers, but noted a perceived lack of support from provincial sources in recent years.
She told The Post that she remains hopeful that the events will promote inter-provincial consumption of local products.
“I appreciate the Ministry of Commerce for its efforts in organising the events, even though we are in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis,” Sopheap said.
