CAC News

Kampong Thom, December 15— Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) met with the Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia (CAC) on December 15, to request cooperation in organizing a field visit to cashew nut farms and related facilities for Japanese investment delegates, with the aim of promoting Cambodia’s cashew sector and attracting foreign investment in March 2026.

During the meeting, CAC recommended agricultural cooperatives and large-scale farmers with strong production capacity as potential business partners for Japanese companies. These recommendations are intended to support upcoming business meetings between Cambodian stakeholders and Japanese firms participating in the investment mission.

JETRO, a government-related organization established in 1958 to promote trade and investment between Japan and the global market, opened its office in Phnom Penh in 2010. The organization works closely with Cambodian institutions, including the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), the Ministry of Commerce (MoC), the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), and private sector partners such as the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Cambodia (YEAC), to facilitate smooth business matching between Cambodian and Japanese companies.

Cambodia is recognized as a major agricultural producer, particularly of high-quality cashew nuts. JETRO aims to bring Japanese companies with experience or interest in overseas agricultural processing to Cambodia. As part of the planned mission, Japanese delegates are expected to visit cashew farms, processing factories, and the Cashew Industrial Park (CIP) in Kampong Thom Province to assess Cambodia’s production capacity and investment potential.

In addition to site visits, JETRO plans to organize business matching sessions between Cambodian agricultural enterprises capable of coordinating farmers and agricultural activities and Japanese companies, with the goal of increasing opportunities for future investment.

“Our goal is to attract Japanese food processing plants to Cambodia, starting with Kampong Thom Province, by ensuring stable sourcing of fruits and vegetables and securing cost advantages through tax incentives such as Qualified Investment Project (QIP) schemes,” said Mr. Wakabayashi Kohei, Country Director of JETRO Cambodia. He added that JETRO hopes to expand successful models, such as MIRARTH Agri Tech’s cashew nut factory, which operates in Cambodia.

During the discussion, Ms. Kikuchi Fumiko, Research Manager for the Asia and Oceania Division of JETRO’s Research and Analyst Department, raised concerns about the supply of raw cashew nuts (RCN), particularly amid strong competition from Vietnamese traders during the harvest season. Responding to the question, Mr. Suy Kokthean, Vice President of CAC, said the CAC has organized business matching events over the past three years to connect buyers directly with producers, large-scale farmers, and agricultural cooperatives.

He explained that these engagements help stakeholders better understand one another and facilitate contract farming arrangements under the supervision of the Department of Agro-Industries (DAI) of MAFF. Such mechanisms, he noted, are essential for building trust and ensuring a stable supply of raw cashew nuts for processing plants.

The initiative is also aligned with the government’s “National Cashew Nut Policy 2022–2027,” which aims to increase Cambodia’s agricultural processing rate and add greater value to the country’s cashew industry.