- Photo: Indonesian Embassy in Cambodia
PHNOM PENH: (Bernama) Indonesia and Cambodia are strengthening bilateral collaboration by establishing a strategic partnership aimed at advancing trade diplomacy.
Following their two-way trade surpassing the billion-dollar mark last year, both Asean nations are now committed to expanding these figures and deepening their ties.
On Friday (Sept 13), Indonesia rebranded the 14th edition of its trade and tourism campaign in the Kingdom by hosting the "Sousdey Indonesia” expo, aimed at bolstering market confidence.
"Today’s event will be a springboard for both our nations engagement, particularly providing a platform for our private sectors an opportunity to explore vast potentials and opportunities to collaborate and forge new trade and investment partnerships,” Cambodia Ministry of Commerce Nimul Cham said at the opening of the two-day expo.
The new branding initiative coincides with the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Cambodia, underscoring Indonesia’s intent to strengthen its connection with Cambodians.
This year's event marks the largest-ever Indonesian solo exhibition in Cambodia, featuring 100 booths, a significant increase from last year’s 40.
About two-thirds of the exhibitors are Indonesian-based companies, including micro, small, and medium enterprises from eight key sectors.
The "Sousdey Indonesia" trade fair showcased products across various industries, including food and beverage, fashion, handicrafts, automotive, furniture, housewares, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and educational institutions.
While addressing the event, Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia Santo Darmosumarto stated that the exhibition transcends trade and tourism, marking an important milestone on the 65th anniversary of bilateral relations between the two nations.
"There are still plenty of potentials that we can optimise for the benefit of the people. Indonesia is committed to continue developing strong relations and cooperation with Cambodia.
"Indonesia can be a choice for Cambodia to access high-quality products and enhance its evolving infrastructure and industrial sector,” said the envoy.
Bilateral ties gained further momentum when President-elect Prabowo Subianto visited the Kingdom on September 6 to deepen relations that date back to the 1950s and even beyond.
Nimul said that the existing multifaceted relations are expanding and that private-sector-driven trade promotion initiatives like "Sousdey Indonesia” are ideal for elevating these ties to new levels.
"This expo will create great synergy for our bilateral trade and promote cooperation between Cambodia and Indonesia’s cooperation in tourism, trade and cultural exchanges and investment.
"Our total trade volume increased by 15 per cent last year and I have full confidence that the 2024 numbers will be even more substantial,” said Nimul.
With robust bilateral economic cooperation, Indonesia has become Cambodia's sixth-largest trading partner.
Two-way trade in the first half of this year reached US$579.4 million, on track to surpass last year’s total trade of around US$1.1 billion.
Indonesia, a G20 member, is now emerging as a new economic powerhouse within Asean with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$1 trillion, the largest in the region.
With a population of over 270 million, Indonesia offers vast trade opportunities for investors, including those from fast-developing Cambodia. - Bernama
