Cambodia has made a strong case for integrating the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) agreement into the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework during the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) held in Abu Dhabi. Cham Nimul, the Minister of Commerce, led a delegation from Cambodia to the conference, emphasizing the potential benefits of such an integration for WTO member states, including Cambodia, by improving the investment environment.
During an IFD event organized on the sidelines of MC13, Minister Nimul expressed firm support for the IFD agreement’s inclusion in the WTO’s agenda. He highlighted the significance of this initiative in fostering a better investment climate, which would, in turn, benefit the member states, particularly Cambodia.
In addition to advocating for the IFD agreement, Minister Nimul participated in a high-level ministerial meeting focused on trade support for the least developed countries. She shared insights from Cambodia’s experiences with trade support programs and projects, discussing their impact and the lessons learned. Her contributions included several suggestions aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of efforts to integrate least developed countries into the global trading system.
On the same day, Minister Nimul had a meeting with Helene Budliger Artieda, the Director of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) of Switzerland, and the Swiss Ambassador to Thailand, who also holds accreditations for Cambodia and Laos. This meeting provided an opportunity to explore avenues for strengthening economic and trade ties between Switzerland and Cambodia.
Furthermore, Minister Nimul was a distinguished guest at the launch of the WTO-ITC Women Exporters in the Digital Economy Fund (WEIDE). This initiative seeks to empower women entrepreneurs and enhance their participation in global trade, fostering strategic partnerships in the process.
The WTO and the International Trade Centre (ITC), a joint agency of the United Nations and the WTO, are dedicated to assisting small businesses in developing countries with trade-related activities. The ITC serves as a key resource for developing countries and economies in transition, offering support in trade promotion and export development.
Source: Khmer Times
