Saudi Arabia is planning to open an embassy in Cambodia soon, according to Senior Minister in charge of Special Missions Othman Hassan.
The embassy is expected to further expand cooperation between the two countries in areas of diplomacy, education, sports and trade.
Hassan revealed the plans after he met with a Saudi delegation led by Mohammed Mbark Al Saefi, an adviser to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on February 6 to discuss the work.
Hassan said the discussions focused on deciding on a suitable location for the embassy.
He said in a social media post after the meeting that the Cambodian government supports all efforts to strengthen and develop bilateral relations in the common interest of the two nations.
“Bilateral trade between Cambodia and Saudi Arabia hit $26 million in 2021 – an increase of nearly 40 per cent over 2020, when it was just $19 million,” he noted.
Ministry of Commerce secretary of state Pich Rithy said that to enhance bilateral cooperation, he had requested that the two kingdoms arrange for exchanges of high-level visits as well as business-matching events to explore investment opportunities.
Cambodia currently exports rice, apparel, footwear and fruit to Saudi Arabia, while importing plastic and aluminium goods, fruit, fertiliser and construction materials from Saudi, said the commerce ministry.
