he discussion aimed at promoting the sustainable development of Cambodia’s cashew value chain. The Ministry of Commerce Monday beefed up its commitment to the sustainable development of Cambodia’s cashew value chain through a mid-term review of the National Cashew Policy 2022-2027, with backing from the EU-German GATE and CAPSAFE projects. Reach Ra, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Commerce, led a discussion meeting with representatives of the EU-German GATE project and the EU-German CAPSAFE project to kick off the mid-term monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the National Cashew Policy 2022-2027. The meeting held at the Ministry of Commerce was attended by Deputy Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to Cambodia, representatives from the EU-German GATE and CAPSAFE Projects, national consultants, and representatives from the General Directorate of Trade Promotion and the Department of Trade Policy. The main objectives of the meeting were to present a summary of the progress of the implementing of the National Cashew Policy 2022-2027 to the representatives of the European Union Delegation to Cambodia, the EU-German GATE Project, and the EU-German CAPSAFE Project, and to discuss an action plan for the mid-term monitoring, and evaluation of the policy’s implementation. The meeting reviewed the action plan and timeline to be jointly implemented by national consultants and the Department of Trade Policy under the General Directorate of Trade Promotion, Ra said. “The discussion aims to strengthen cooperation and promote the sustainable development of Cambodia’s cashew value chain,” Ra said. The European Union Delegation to Cambodia expressed continued commitment to support the Ministry of Commerce, particularly in enhancing the effectiveness of the policy’s implementation, promoting greater value addition for Cambodian cashew products, and elevating the reputation of Cambodia’s cashew sector. The National Cashew Policy 2022-2027 in Cambodia, developed and introduced in 2023, aims to establish the country as a leading cashew producer and exporter by boosting production, developing processing facilities, diversifying markets, and streamlining trade. The policy prioritises increasing both the quantity and quality of cashew production, promoting industrialisation to add value to cashew products, and expanding export opportunities. Cambodia has a total cashew harvesting area of 580,117 hectares, of which three provinces have the largest cashew cultivation area, including Kampong Thom province with 147,703 hectares, Kratie province 102,520 hectares, and Ratanakiri province 97,258 hectares, according to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. In the first five months of 2025, Cambodia exported nearly 600,000 tonnes of fresh cashew nuts, an increase of nearly 6 percent from 538,975 tonnes in the same period in 2024, read the report. The government aims to become the world’s leading cashew exporter by implementing the National Cashew Policy 2022-2027, focusing on enhancing production, processing, and market competitiveness. Strategic investments and partnerships are driving Cambodia’s cashew industry growth, with plans for new processing facilities and agro-industrial zones to further boost production and exports.