Chan Sokheng, president of the Cambodia Rice Federation, receives the ‘World’s Best Rice’ award at the 2024 World Rice Conference. Supplied
The International World Rice Conference (WRC) – considered the world's most prestigious rice competition – may be held in Cambodia in 2025. This comes against the background of expectations that the Kingdom’s rice exports may have experienced a slight decline in 2024.
During a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in Phnom Penh on January 8, Jeremy Zwinger, president and CEO of The Rice Trader (TRT) and founder of the WRC, highlighted Cambodia's rapid development across various sectors, including rice, logistics and infrastructure.
He expressed his belief that these advancements will help Cambodia to increase its international rice exports.
Additionally, Zwinger congratulated Cambodia for winning the “World's Best Rice” award at the 2024 WRC in Manila, the Philippines, on November 7. He also expressed his support for Cambodia to host this year’s event.
The WRC is an annual platform for experts and rice export companies worldwide to meet and discuss issues related to the rice industry.
Manet offered his backing to the idea of the Kingdom’s hosting the 2025 event.
The conference is supported by TRT and the International Commodity Institute (ICI), both from the US.
The WRC platform selects the best rice in the world each year, with Cambodian produce winning the top rankings on six occasions: in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2024. Last year’s winner was the “Malys Angkor” fragrant rice brand.
Lun Yeng, secretary-general of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), told The Post on January 9 that the WRC has been held 16 times.
He shared his belief that if the Kingdom hosts the 17th edition it would provide great benefits to the sector, particularly in terms of increased exports.
“If the WRC is held in Cambodia in 2025, it will bring many benefits to Cambodia's rice sector, as it will provide international exposure. Specialists and other stakeholders from the food industry from many countries will participate,” he said.
The CEO of City Rice Import Export Co Ltd, Lay Chhun Hour, whose company won the World’s Best Rice award at the 2022 WRC for their “Rumdoul” strain, commented that while the confirmation of Cambodia as the host country for the 2025 WRC is not yet official, he remains optimistic.
Prime Minister Hun Manet (right) meets with Jeremy Zwinger, founder of the World Rice Conference, in Phnom Penh on January 8. STPM
He noted that bringing such an event to Cambodia would be a great opportunity to promote the quality and taste of the Kingdom’s rice internationally.
He also described how the government have strategically positioned rice cultivation as a long-term priority, so hosting the WRC in 2025 would enhance the recognition of Cambodian rice.
It would also motivate farmers and industry stakeholders to improve productivity and quality, he added.
During the January 8 meeting, the prime minister reiterated that his government considers rice as a long-term strategic crop.
He noted that agriculture plays a key role in improving the livelihoods of citizens and in the socio-economic development of Cambodia.
The government continues to prioritise rice as a strategic crop by implementing policies to support the sector and ensure its competitiveness. This includes building infrastructure, facilitating transportation, reducing production costs and promoting local ownership at all stages of the supply chain, as well as increasing international exports.
He encouraged the CRF to continue to collaborate with relevant government institutions to promote exports to international markets at higher prices and to provide technical training to farmers to enhance product quality and productivity.
Manet suggested that this collaboration will also help increase awareness of Cambodia's rice sector development.
According to Yeng, Cambodia was expected to produce a total of 13.99 million tonnes of paddy rice in 2024, an increase of more than 1.4 million tonnes over 2023. However, exports in 2024 are expected to reach around 640,000 tons, a slight decline of about 1%.
Yeng explained that the decline in exports is due to several challenges, particularly transportation issues.
However, he was optimistic about a recovery in 2025, as the prime minister has pledged to help boost exports by creating a joint task force between the government and private sector, studying the use of larger vessels for rice transport, and investing in storage facilities, drying warehouses and milling machines.
