Vietnamese and Cambodian logistics enterprises promote cooperation

A workshop on Vietnam - Cambodia logistics cooperation and connecting business networking took place in Phnom Penh, on May 10.

Workshop on Vietnam - Cambodia logistics cooperation and connecting business networking. (Photo: Nguyen Hiep)
Workshop on Vietnam - Cambodia logistics cooperation and connecting business networking. (Photo: Nguyen Hiep)

As part of activities to mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (June 24, 1967-2022), the event is one of the first large-scale in-person events held between the two countries after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang stated that although bilateral trade turnover between both sides has continued to grow over the past two years, reaching more than 5.32 billion USD in 2020 and over 9.54 billion USD in 2021, the two countries’ authorities and businesses must improve and agree on relevant legal documents in a bid to promote greater efficiency and sustainability in trade activities.

Ambassador Nguyen Huy Tang spoke at the workshop. (Photo: Nguyen Hiep)

Vietnam's exports to Cambodia are mainly iron and steel, chemical products, plastic products, electrical machinery and equipment, processed foods, confectionery and cereal products. Meanwhile, Vietnamese enterprises import rubber, cashew nuts and many other agricultural products from Cambodia.

At the workshop, participants frankly exchanged many opinions, assessed the current situation, as well as focused on problems to seek solutions which can improve the overall competitiveness of the two countries’ logistics service providers.

Many businesses have shared lessons learned in the Cambodian market, such as strengthening coordination in trade promotion activities, communication, and creating conditions for logistics start-ups to exchange and approach e-commerce businesses and consumer goods manufacturers.

Concerning the opinion that Cambodia should seek to improve its infrastructure, especially the main routes from the Bavet border gate in Svay Rieng province to the capital Phnom Penh, Chhieng Pich, director-general of the General Department of Logistics under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Cambodia, provided detailed information on the construction plan of the Bavet-Phnom Penh expressway.

This will be Cambodia's second key economic corridor after the upcoming Preah Sihanouk-Phnom Penh route. In addition to the highway, Cambodia's Ministry of Transport and Public Works is also in the process of studying the feasibility of building a Phnom Penh-Bavet-Ho Chi Minh City railway to reduce freight costs.