Japanese company Regional Fish Institute, Ltd, which specialises in aquaculture, has shown interest in the Kingdom’s aquaculture sector and has requested guidance from the leadership of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) regarding this matter.
Representatives of the company met with Sun Chanthol, first vice-chairman of the CDC, and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, at the CDC headquarters on April 1.
Shun Ishimoto, CEO of Regional Fish Institute, Ltd. (Overseas Operations), and head of operations and production at the company, shared that the company is very interested in investment opportunities in Cambodia.
He noted that Regional Fish has broad expertise in the use of advanced biotechnology to enhance productivity.
Additionally, the company specialises in research and development of new breeds, as well as improving the quality standards of aquatic products to meet local demand and export to international markets.
“We aim to conduct research, transfer technology and disseminate information about aquaculture using modern scientific methods, focusing on various perspectives in the region to promote sustainability in Cambodia,” he said.
Chanthol advised the company to conduct further research, in collaboration with relevant institutions, especially the agriculture ministry, to ensure that their efforts are aligned with existing regulations and avoid any potential impacts on Cambodia’s existing biodiversity.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that between January and November 2024, a total of 88 Japanese companies/enterprises registered businesses in Cambodia, a 20.55% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
The ministry noted that the Cambodia-Japan bilateral trade cooperation has been steadily improving.
Japanese investment in Cambodia spans various sectors such as construction, real estate, hospitality, tourism, automobile manufacturing, agricultural product processing, agri-industry, food, crop cultivation, electronics, energy and retail.
During a November meeting with Prime Minister Hun Manet, Japanese deputy foreign minister Eri Arfiya pledged to strengthen political and economic cooperation, as the number of Japanese investors in Cambodia continues to rise.
“Partnerships and cooperation, along with building trust between the governments of Japan and Cambodia, will not only be maintained but will continue to be strengthened and expanded further,” she said.
In 2024, total trade between Cambodia and Japan amounted to $2.16 billion, a 20.1% increase over 2023. Of this, Cambodia exported $1.41 billion worth of goods to Japan (up 19.8%), while importing $752.56 million from Japan (up 20.7%), according to the General Department of Customs and Excise.