US companies have expressed interest in exporting Cambodian agricultural products to the American market, a move welcomed by Prime Minister Hun Manet, who supports their pursuit of investment opportunities in the country’s agriculture sector.

On September 10, a US business delegation of five companies met with Manet in Phnom Penh.

According to a social media post by the prime minister on the same day, the mission of the US business delegation aims to explore investment prospects and connect with business partners in Cambodia to export the country’s agricultural products to the US market, which includes milled rice, cashew, pepper and dried mango.

“The prime minister welcomed the interest of US companies in seeking investment opportunities and exporting Cambodian agricultural products to the US market,” the post said.

During the meeting, Manet highlighted the government's focus on the agricultural sector, including a tax incentive package and agricultural modernisation.

He also mentioned the deployment of technical officers at the local level and the establishment of modern agricultural communities, logistics systems and infrastructure aimed at reducing costs and boosting the competitiveness of the country’s agricultural products.

He encouraged the delegation to continue discussions with relevant Cambodian ministries and institutions to explore investment and business opportunities in agriculture, education and other sectors.

The post also noted that a US company has decided to establish a representative office in Cambodia to assist local students wishing to pursue studies in the US.

In the first eight months of 2024, trade between Cambodia and the US exceeded $6.9 billion, a 10% year-on-year increase. Of this, exports totalled more than $6.7 billion, up 10%, while imports from the US reached over $173 million, an 8% increase compared to the same period in 2023, according to the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE).