Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, who will lead a Hong Kong business delegation to Cambodia on July 31.- Photo: Xinhua
PHNOM PENH (Phnom Penh Post/ANN): Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee will visit Cambodia at the end of the month, with the goal of expanding business opportunities between Hong Kong and the Kingdom. Trade volume between the two is currently surging.
Lee, who was elected to replace Carrie Lam last year, is scheduled to touch down on July 31.
He will meet with key business stakeholders, including Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, first vice-president of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), and Kith Meng, president of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce (CCC).
According to an announcement on his social media, Lee will lead a delegation from Hong Kong’s business, trade, law, logistics and innovation sectors to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
“I will bring senior business representatives from many fields to promote Hong Kong, explore business opportunities, build wider contacts and networks, and open up new areas and opportunities.
“At the same time, we will introduce Hong Kong's contribution to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) and seek support from Asean countries for Hong Kong's early accession to the RCEP,” said his post.
CCC vice-president Lim Heng told The Post today that a meeting between the CCC and the Hong Kong delegation would take place under the theme of "Supper-connecting new pathways to success: Hong Kong-Cambodia Partnership in Fostering Mutual Prosperity and Economic Development”.
He said the CCC and Hong Kong businessmen have a long-standing relationship. In addition, relations between Hong Kong and Cambodia have improved both commercially and politically, as Hong Kong is part of China. Hong Kong is an important gateway for Cambodia.
"Trade relations are excellent. Investment from Hong Kong to Cambodia has increased and that makes our relations better,” added Heng.
Total trade volume between Cambodia and Hong Kong amounted to more than US$300 million in the first six months of this year, a 54.3 per cent jump on the US$194 million recorded in the same period last year, according to the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia. - Phnom Penh Post/ANN
