In a significant development on March 4, 2024, Paul Serra, CEO of Australia’s SunRice Group, met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to discuss the company’s proposal to launch a rice processing facility in Cambodia aimed at exporting to international markets.
During the meeting, Serra highlighted SunRice Group’s distinction as the inaugural Australian entity to import Cambodian rice into Australia and New Zealand. He praised Cambodia for its strengths in agriculture, noting the global acclaim of Cambodian rice. He pointed out the advantageous factors that make Cambodia an attractive investment destination, including its youthful and competitive workforce, stable electricity costs, enhanced transportation infrastructure, efficient telecommunications, and robust logistics.
Serra elaborated on SunRice Group’s aspiration to deepen and broaden its engagement with Cambodia’s agricultural sector, with a particular focus on the rice processing industry. The company is keen on investing in the creation of facilities dedicated to processing, especially organic rice, targeting the export market.
Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed his government’s support for SunRice Group’s investment initiative in the Cambodian rice processing sector, aimed at bolstering exports. He outlined the government’s strategy of deploying agricultural experts across communes and Sangkats nationwide to augment the technical support provided to farmers, thereby enhancing the yield of local agricultural produce.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister assured Serra of the government’s commitment to augmenting the nation’s transport and logistics infrastructure, along with advancing policies to foster the development of the electricity sector. A particular emphasis is being placed on clean and renewable energy sources to enhance the competitiveness of business operations in Cambodia, facilitate connectivity, and reduce transportation costs.
Prime Minister Hun Manet also encouraged SunRice Group and other international companies to explore additional investment opportunities in Cambodia, in partnership with relevant local ministries and institutions, signaling a welcoming stance towards foreign investment in the country’s burgeoning agricultural and industrial sectors.
Source: Khmer Times
