PHNOM PENH, June 24, 2026 — The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) has taken another step toward strengthening the country's cashew industry by reviewing a proposal to establish Cambodia's first specialized cashew special economic zone (SEZ) in Kampong Thom province.

The Cambodian Investment Board (CIB) of the CDC on June 24 convened a One-Stop Service Meeting to examine the investment proposal submitted by Kampong Thom Cashew Industrial Park Co., Ltd. for the development of a dedicated cashew processing industrial park.

If approved, the project would become Cambodia's first specialized SEZ focused exclusively on the cashew industry. The industrial park is expected to serve as a model for agro-industrial development while attracting domestic and international investment in cashew processing and related industries.

The initiative is designed to promote value addition within Cambodia, enabling more raw cashew nuts to be processed locally instead of being exported for processing abroad.

Speaking to Kampuchea Thmey, Silot Uon, President of the Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia (CAC), said the industrial park would create significant economic benefits for farmers and rural communities.

"The cashew industrial park will increase the value of Cambodian cashew production while creating employment opportunities in rural areas, particularly for Cambodian workers returning from Thailand," he said.

Silot noted that Kampong Thom is the country's leading cashew-producing province, with more than 150,000 hectares under cultivation. The province accounts for approximately 30 percent of Cambodia's total cashew harvest, making it an ideal location for a specialized processing hub.

Beyond processing raw cashew kernels, the industrial park is also expected to encourage investment in utilizing cashew by-products.

According to Silot, products such as cashew shells and cashew apples (cashew fruit) could be processed into industrial materials and other value-added products, helping maximize the economic potential of Cambodia's growing cashew sector while reducing agricultural waste.

The project aligns with Cambodia's broader strategy of developing integrated agricultural value chains and increasing exports of processed products rather than raw commodities.

According to unofficial figures from the Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia, the country exported more than 970,000 metric tons of raw cashew nuts to Vietnam during the first five months of 2026 (January-May).

Those exports generated approximately US$1.6 billion in revenue, representing a 25 percent increase compared with the same period in 2025.

Despite being one of the world's largest producers of raw cashew nuts, Cambodia continues to export most of its harvest for processing overseas, primarily to Vietnam. Industry stakeholders believe the proposed Kampong Thom Cashew Special Economic Zone could significantly expand domestic processing capacity, create higher-value exports, and strengthen Cambodia's position in the global cashew value chain.

If implemented, the project is expected to become a cornerstone of Cambodia's efforts to transform its cashew industry from a major raw material supplier into a competitive processor and exporter of finished cashew products.

Source: Kampuchea Thmey Daily