Prime Minister Hun Manet (right) meets with Naoki Ikawa in Tokyo, Japan, on December 16. STPM
Japanese firms are showing interest in expanding their investment in the country’s agricultural processing industry as Cambodia fosters the transformation of agricultural products into finished goods for export, according to Prime Minister Hun Manet.
Manet made the remarks during his December 16 meeting with Naoki Ikawa, president of Ehime Package Co Ltd, at the 50th ASEAN-Japan Anniversary Summit held from December 15-19 in Tokyo, Japan.
As per details shared through Manet’s official Telegram account, Ikawa expressed at the meeting that based on positive experiences, his company is enthusiastic to increase its investment in the country, particularly in the cardboard case industry for export.
Hun Manet welcomed the company’s executives and expressed gratitude for their positive outlook on the Kingdom’s potential.
He noted that he plans to have a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to discuss ways to strengthen and expand cooperation, with a focus on enhancing economic ties and private sector relations.
“The company’s commitment to producing cardboard cases for agricultural products aligns well with the government’s priority to promote the export of agricultural products as finished goods,” he noted.
He added that the government has implemented several strategies and measures, including assigning agricultural officials to communes nationwide to assist farmers and establishing modern farming communities.
Lim Heng, vice-president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC), who accompanied Manet to the summit, stated on December 17 that the prime minister had several meetings with major Japanese companies, aiming to attract more investors.
He highlighted the role of the chamber in supporting the government’s efforts to attract financing, particularly from Japanese businesses known for their clear investment strategies.
“During this time, [Manet] met with companies like Pharma Foods International [PFI], the Yazaki and Sumitomo Corporations and Ehime Package. Most seem keen to enhance their investments in Cambodia, especially in agriculture. [Manet’s] efforts serve as motivation for our private sector to assist the government in this mission,” he stated.
Heng mentioned that apart from these meetings, the prime minister also attended the ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-Creation Forum.
The event, organised by Japan’s Ministry of Economy and Industry in Tokyo, focused on promoting digital trade between ASEAN and Japan.
It also discussed the progress of digital transformation, addressing the challenges and opportunities for sustainable digital evolution, and emphasised the need for closer collaboration between ASEAN and partner country governments and their private sectors.
