Minebea (Cambodia) Co Ltd, a local subsidiary of Japanese multinational MinebeaMitsumi Inc, has become an official partner of the Cambodia national football team and signed a sponsorship agreement with the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC).

The partner sponsorship deal runs for two years and will see the MinebeaMitsumi logo on the official kits worn by players and staff.

The logo will be displayed in stadiums, and official sponsorship games will be held, with the first match on Thursday against Pakistan at Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh.

MinebeaMitsumi established a local subsidiary in the Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone in 2010 as the country’s first manufacturer of precision electronic components.

Since then, the company has been making efforts to contribute to local communities by creating jobs and improving employees’ living environments and education through the manufacture of a variety of electronic components such as small motors.

The Cambodian factory is one of the company’s most important manufacturing bases, with approximately 9,000 employees – the largest number employed by a Japanese company in the Kingdom.

The company has also been working on the “Smart City” project since 2015, installing approximately 6,000 high-efficiency LED streetlights in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, combining wireless networks and various sensors to resolve issues such as energy conservation and infrastructure development, to contribute to the sustainable growth of Cambodia.

MinebeaMitsumi representative director, CEO and COO Yoshihisa Kainuma said: “Cambodia’s economic growth rate is a rapid 7 per cent and according to the UN the average age of the population is 25.6 years old.

“It is young people who support the country’s growth and development. Football is one of the most popular sports in Cambodia and the national football team Keisuke Honda manages attracts worldwide attention not only in Cambodia and Japan.

“At the same time, Minebea-Mitsumi has many products that boast the world’s top market share, including our mainstay miniature and small-sized ball bearings. We also engage in business activities aiming to be No1 in the global field.

“By supporting the challenges and activities of the Cambodia national football team on the global stage, we would like to share passion – that is also stated in our slogan Passion to Create Value through Difference – as well as confidence and joy, with young Cambodian people who support the Cambodian economy and aim for further growth on the world stage.

“MinebeaMitsumi is delighted to support Cambodia’s further growth through the support of the national football team.”