Chinese deals help, but Cambodia needs to do more: experts
Despite strengthened economic ties following the signing of 31 agreements on October 13 between Cambodia and China, the Kingdom’s agricultural sector still needs to improve before it can fully benefit from the opportunities offered by the largest economy in the region, experts have said on October 13. Cambodia and China added several agreements to their multiple existing export treaties, but the Kingdom still faces a limited capacity for exports, according to Chan Sophal, director of the Center for Policy Studies. The high production costs faced by the country’s agricultural sector and the expensive logistics of sending goods to Asia’s largest economy reduce the extent to which Cambodia can fully benefit from the trade agreements, he added. The Kingdom’s agricultural producers are forced to export to Thailand and Vietnam first before products can be forwarded to China on Cambodia’s behalf, he added.
