CAC News

Phnom Penh, March 10, 2026 — The Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia (CAC), in coordination with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), hosted a business matching event bringing together 9 Cambodian cashew processing companies and 14 Japanese firms to explore investment and partnership opportunities in Cambodia’s growing agro-processing sector.

The event, co-organized by JETRO, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center (CJCC), aimed to strengthen business partnerships between Cambodian agricultural producers and Japanese agri-food and machinery companies.

Silot Uon, the President of CAC, led a delegation of Cambodian cashew processors. The group included representatives from various sectors of the agricultural food industry. Participants from Japan represented companies engaged in agri-food processing and agricultural machinery, demonstrating strong interest in both processing technology and supply chain collaboration.

The business matching session took place in Phnom Penh on March 10, following a field visit to Kampong Thom Province on March 9, organized by the Kampong Thom provincial administration. During the visit, the Japanese delegation examined cashew plantations and processing facilities to better understand Cambodia’s production capacity and investment potential.

Officials say Japanese investors are increasingly studying opportunities in Cambodia’s agro-industry as the country seeks to expand agro-processing capacity and add value to its agricultural exports.

Speaking during the visit, Kampong Thom Governor Nuon Pharath highlighted the province’s strong potential for agro-industrial development. He noted that local authorities are working to create a favorable investment environment, including plans to establish industrial zones dedicated to agro-processing factories.

Pharath added that Kampong Thom has already attracted investors from the United States, Japan, South Korea, and China, reflecting growing international confidence in the province’s agricultural sector.

Kampong Thom, one of Cambodia’s largest agricultural regions, produces more than one million tons of rice annually and nearly 200,000 tons of cashew nuts from about 160,000 hectares of plantations. Officials believe that increased Japanese investment could help Cambodia reduce reliance on raw agricultural exports and strengthen domestic processing industries, allowing farmers and businesses to capture greater value from their products.

The initiative marks another step toward expanding Cambodia–Japan cooperation in agriculture and agro-industry, with stakeholders hopeful that new partnerships will support sustainable growth in the country’s cashew sector.