CAC News
PHNOM PENH, October 2, 2026 — H.E. Ky Chanramdouls, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), met with representatives of RMA (Cambodia) Plc. for a courtesy call and working discussion to explore potential cooperation in agricultural product processing and human resource development.
The meeting was held at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on the afternoon of October 2, focusing on opportunities to utilize Cambodian agricultural raw materials, expand domestic processing for export markets and strengthen technical capacity in the agricultural sector.
During the discussion, H.E. Ky Chanramdouls welcomed RMA's interest in investing in agricultural processing, particularly the development of products for export to the European market. He emphasized the importance of utilizing locally available raw materials, expanding domestic processing, increasing added value and improving farmers' daily incomes.
Government Encourages RMA to Explore Cashew Processing
The Undersecretary of State also encouraged RMA to consider investing in Cambodia's cashew industry, highlighting the potential to maximize the value of the entire cashew crop rather than focusing exclusively on edible kernels.
He suggested that investors could process raw cashew nuts into kernels for sale while utilizing the shells to produce cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), creating an additional revenue stream from what is often treated as a processing by-product.
Such an integrated approach could generate additional employment opportunities, improve resource efficiency and contribute to better livelihoods for Cambodian farmers.
Cooperation in Agricultural Human Resource Development
Human resource development was another important topic during the meeting.
H.E. Ky Chanramdouls encouraged RMA to cooperate with Cambodia's three agricultural universities and the Department of Agricultural Engineering to provide training opportunities for Cambodian students and strengthen the technical capabilities of agricultural officials.
The proposed cooperation could cover agricultural machinery maintenance and repair, the establishment of machinery service centers, equipment assembly and component installation, as well as innovation and technology development tailored to Cambodia's agricultural needs.
The initiative aims to strengthen the country's technical workforce and support the modernization of agricultural production and processing.
CAC Welcomes RMA's Potential Entry into the Cashew Industry
Commenting on the potential involvement of RMA in Cambodia's cashew sector, Silot Uon, President of the Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia (CAC), welcomed the company's interest and described it as an encouraging signal for the industry.
He noted that RMA is a major business conglomerate with extensive business operations and that its decision to explore opportunities in cashew processing could help attract further investment and strengthen confidence in Cambodia's agricultural industrialization.
Turning Agricultural Potential into Industrial Investment
Cambodia has established itself as one of the world's major raw cashew nut producers, but domestic processing remains relatively limited compared with its production capacity.
The development of the Cashew Industrial Park, together with appropriate investment incentives and supporting infrastructure, is expected to play an important role in encouraging investors to establish processing facilities in the country.
The potential interest of RMA represents an opportunity to connect Cambodia's agricultural production base with industrial investment, technology, human resource development and international export markets.
For the CAC, the priority is to ensure that Cambodia can move beyond exporting raw agricultural commodities and develop a competitive domestic processing industry that creates employment, increases value addition and delivers greater economic benefits to farmers.
Reference: FB MAFF
