The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and the Siem Reap Provincial Administration Friday discussed ways to strengthen the production chain and enhance the reputation of Cambodian cashew nuts making it more competitive and sustainable. In a seminar on ‘Strengthening the Potential of Cambodian Cashew Nuts’, the MoC delegation and the Siem Reap Provincial Administration explored ways to promote the cashew nut production chain. The seminar, held as a side event of the ‘18th Cambodian Fruit and Vegetable Exhibition 2025’, was presided over by Samheng Bora, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Commerce, and Yun Linne, Deputy Governor of Siem Reap province. It was attended by officials from the Provincial Department of Commerce, relevant departments and units within Siem Reap province, as well as representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, companies, handicrafts, farmers, traders, exporters, and other stakeholders in the cashew industry. According to the press statement of the MoC, this workshop aimed at strengthening the production chain and enhancing the reputation of Cambodian cashew nuts, which are gaining both national and international recognition. The event also sought to promote market opportunities for cashews to relevant stakeholders, particularly processors and exporters. The workshop also served as a platform for promoting the implementation of the National Cashew Policy and offering recommendations to enhance the development of the Cambodian cashew sector, making it more competitive and sustainable, the statement added. According to Bora, the seminar will serve as a platform to foster closer cooperation between the public and private sectors. Combined with trade facilitation, matchmaking forums, and promotion through various events, as well as help enhance the reputation and potential of the Cambodian cashew sector. “Combined with trade facilitation, matchmaking forums, and promotion through various events, it will help enhance the reputation and potential of the Cambodian cashew sector,” said Bora, adding that “these factors will serve as crucial driving forces in achieving the goal of transforming Cambodia into a stable and reliable major cashew producer and exporter on the global stage in the future.” Bora and Linne also presided over a signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Cambodia Cashew Federation (CCF), represented by its President An Dara, and Control Union (Cambodia) Co., Ltd., represented by its General Manager Dilum Wijenayake. Control Union (Cambodia) Co., Ltd. is an international company that offers consulting and technical to assist each factory in meeting food safety standards. Dara told Khmer Times yesterday that the MoU aims to collaborate in improving international food safety, management systems, and value-added certifications for exporting abroad. He said that the domestic market is still small, while cashew production is abundant, making it essential for Cambodia to process a large quantity for export. However, without international food certification, these cashews cannot be exported. “We signed an MoU with this international company for the technical advice. Additionally, all members of the CCF who process cashews for export will receive special pricing. Once we obtain a certificate from Control Union, we will be able to export to any country,” Dara emphasised. “Regarding cashews, Cambodia has great potential compared to other countries. Cambodia ranks second in the world in cashew production and our cashews are of the best quality in the world. Our farming community also has great potential in producing organic cashews and cashews that are sustainably farmed.” Dara went on to add that Cambodia must work hard to achieve high-cost efficiency and market competitiveness with neighbouring countries, as Cambodia exports about 90 percent of its products abroad, which reduces local processing due to uncompetitive prices. According to Dara, in Cambodia, there are about 44 cashew nut processing enterprises, but most of them do not yet have international food safety certificates. It may be recalled that the Kingdom produced 850,000 tonnes of cashew nuts in 2024, marking a 26.8 percent increase from the previous year. Exports reached 815,000 tonnes, up 31 percent, with Vietnam remaining the primary market at 793,453 tonnes.