At the ’10th World Cashew Conference 2024′ held in Sihanoukville, international participants from key global cashew markets gathered to share insights, forge a unified network, and secure competitive standings for cashews in regional and global arenas.
Aun Pornmoniroth, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, presided over the event from February 1 to 3. He acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Commerce (MoC), the Cashew Federation of Cambodia (CFC), Eventell Global Advisory Private Limited, and other crucial ministries and entities for their roles in organizing the conference.
Pornmoniroth highlighted the significance of assembling industry participants from both local and international backgrounds to foster opportunities for dialogue, information exchange, knowledge sharing, and professional networking.
Cham Nimul, the Minister of MoC, also in attendance, stated, “The conference aims to unite stakeholders from various nations to exchange insights, thereby advancing the cashew sector both regionally and globally through exhibitions and networking activities.”
Cambodia boasts 472,946 hectares dedicated to cashew cultivation, yielding 709,419 tonnes. The country exports approximately 656,000 tonnes of raw cashews to markets including China, Japan, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Thailand. Additionally, processed cashews are exported to destinations such as the Czech Republic, South Korea, the Netherlands, the United States, China, Japan, and Vietnam.
The Deputy Prime Minister referenced directives from Prime Minister Hun Manet urging the Economic and Financial Policy Committee (EFPC) to implement four strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the processing and exportation of cashews, a key agricultural product. These initiatives include augmenting export capabilities, focusing initially on semi-processed products like dried cashews; advancing branding and marketing efforts; encouraging the development of new cashew farming communities; and exploring opportunities to boost investment in nut collection, processing, and storage infrastructure.
To further advance the cashew sector, he provided several recommendations, such as the need for the MoC to work closely with pertinent ministries and the private sector. This collaboration is essential to effectively enact the strategies designed to enhance the processing and exportation of cashews to global markets, under the oversight of the ‘Inter-Ministerial Commission’. This body is tasked with overseeing and assessing the implementation of the National Policy on Cashew 2022-2027.
