A high-level delegation from Turkiye is set to visit Phnom Penh for an official visit, aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries, particularly in the area of trade. Their arrival is expected next week, although no exact date has been specified.
Keo Viseth, chief of the National Assembly (NA) Cabinet, confirmed this to reporters on September 18 after a meeting between NA president Khuon Sudary and Ulku Kocaefe, ambassador of Turkiye to Cambodia.
“When we examine Turkiye’s policy, it aligns with the policies of our government in various sectors, including industry, agriculture, digital development and others,” he stated.
“The Turkish embassy will arrange trade discussions with Cambodia, with a particular focus on bilateral trade. One significant aspect of these discussions is the establishment of a Turkish Cultural Centre, which will concentrate on enhancing educational and cultural relations between the two countries,” Viseth added.
Scholarships for Cambodian students will also be a focal point during next week’s visit.
The Turkish delegation also wishes to emphasise their support for Cambodia in its pursuit of achieving high-middle-income status by 2030 and becoming a high-income country by 2050.
Lim Heng, vice-president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, noted that the trade volume between the nations is relatively low, underscoring the need for both countries to strengthen their cooperation and dialogue in order to effectively implement the agreements they have signed.
“The third Cambodia-Turkiye Joint Economic Commission (JEC) in October last year paved the way for both sides to boost their bilateral trade. Turkiye serves as an attractive business hub that holds appeal for Cambodia in terms of exporting goods,” Heng remarked.
According to data from the Ministry of Commerce, the trade volume between Cambodia and Turkiye during the period from 2017 to 2021 amounted to nearly $463 million.
However, in 2022, this volume reached $150 million, showing a marginal increase compared to the previous year.
Cambodia primarily exports garments, textiles, footwear, bags, milled rice and umbrellas to Turkiye.
Whereas Cambodia’s imports from Turkiye include machinery, medical, glass, metal and plastic products.
