Cambodia is seeking to display more of its products in supermarkets across Thailand to reduce the trade deficit with its neighbour.

Cambodian Ambassador to Thailand Ouk Sorphorn asked Thailand’s Siam Piwat Company Limited to distribute Cambodian goods in its Iconsiam and Siam Paragon retail outlets.

Sorphorn told The Post on Tuesday: “We suggested that they purchase Cambodian products to sell at their supermarkets. In turn, they asked us to share a list of the products that they could sell and include the necessary documentation so that they can select what goods to buy.”

The Kingdom currently has a trade deficit with its Asean neighbour, Sorphorn said. Stocking the Kingdom’s unique range of products in Thai supermarkets can help bridge the gap, he said.

“We plan to promote Geographical Indication (GI) products like Kampot Pepper and Kampong Speu Sugar. We hope Siam Piwat can purchase them before Khmer New Year as they are preparing a trade exhibition around that time,” Sorphorn said.

Cambodian products would be displayed in booths inside Iconsiam and Siam Paragon outlets for seven days before Thailand’s Songkran Festival, which coincides with Khmer New Year.

The Cambodian ambassador encouraged local companies to contact the Thai conglomerate to learn more about the potential deal.

“Once a concrete arrangement with Siam Piwat has been reached, the embassy will act as a bridge to link Cambodian companies with Thai ones to forge partnerships via memorandums of understanding or contractual agreements.

“The embassy does its utmost to cooperate with Thai authorities and the private sector to foster strong relations.

“Along with Siam Piwat, we are also in communication with CP All, which owns the rights to the 7-Eleven trademark in Thailand, to promote Cambodian products in their outlets,” Sorphorn said.

A report by the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh said trade volume between the two countries reached $4.2 billion in the first half of last year – a seven per cent increase over the same period in 2018.