Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – On January 28th, the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) held its 2025 Annual Summary Conference at the Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Center in Phnom Penh. CCC President Duke Chen Fengming presided over the meeting and delivered an important speech, emphasizing that the CCC will continue to fulfill its statutory mission as a "strategic partner" of the government, contributing to Cambodia's strategic goal of achieving approximately 5% economic growth by 2026 through strengthening provincial and municipal cooperation, overseas expansion, and building bridges between government and business.
Duke Chen Fengming pointed out that this conference showcased the development strength of Cambodia's private sector, clarifying that the CCC is not an ordinary social organization, but a core partner for the government in promoting economic development. He stated that the CCC will continue to rely on mechanisms such as the "Government-Private Sector Forum" to ensure direct and transparent dialogue between the private sector and the government; focus on long-standing pain points in areas such as taxation, customs, and logistics to effectively optimize the business environment; and encourage provincial and municipal chambers of commerce to guide SMEs onto a "formalized" development path, enhancing their competitiveness and fully releasing the benefits of national trade agreements and preferential policies for businesses.
Regarding local development, Duke Chen Fengming emphasized the importance of close collaboration between provincial and municipal chambers of commerce and the government, proposing that each province should leverage its own resources to create differentiated advantages: Siem Reap Province should deepen the transformation and upgrading of its tourism industry, Kampong Thom Province should focus on agricultural product processing and increase product added value, and Sihanoukville Province should consolidate and strengthen its position as a modern logistics hub.
Regarding international expansion, Duke Chen Fengming introduced that the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce currently has eight overseas representative offices in Canada, Japan, Australia, the United States, and New Zealand. In 2026, the Chamber plans to add two more overseas offices in Perth, Australia, and Genoa, Italy, with relevant preparatory work already approved by the government. These overseas representative offices will serve as "strategic gateways," building the quality reputation of "Made in Cambodia" in the international market, and playing a business liaison role by organizing business matchmaking events and promoting the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), attracting more international investment to Cambodia.
The conference cited the latest report from the National Bank of Cambodia, indicating that Cambodia's economic growth rate is expected to remain at 5% in 2026, driven mainly by strong manufacturing exports, a full recovery in tourism, favorable agricultural policies, and a steady recovery in the construction and real estate industries. Meanwhile, Duke Chen Fengming also reminded all sectors to pay attention to internal and external challenges. External challenges include risks such as geopolitical conflicts, climate change, and cybercrime, while internal challenges include rising non-performing loan rates.
The conference also featured a product exhibition area, with nearly 80 booths showcasing the products and services of over 100 companies and institutions. Leaders from chambers of commerce across the country, heads of private sector working groups, representatives from overseas representative offices, and relevant partners gathered to conduct in-depth discussions on the development challenges and countermeasures in core industries such as agriculture, industry, energy, education, and tourism.
