The combined efforts of industry associations, government agencies and private firms reflect a coordinated strategy to position Cambodia as a competitive player in the global cashew market. The Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia (CAC) Sunday organised a business-to-business (B2B) matching forum at the Polytechnic Institute of Kampong Thom, bringing together farmer groups, buyers and financial institutions in a concerted effort to strengthen Cambodia’s cashew value chain. The forum convened 54 participants representing 22 agricultural cooperatives from Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, Ratanakiri, Siem Reap, Kampong Cham and Phnom Penh. The event aimed to facilitate direct linkages between producers and processors, reducing reliance on intermediaries and improving income stability for farmers. Six companies expressed interest in purchasing raw cashew nuts (RCN) directly from farmers and cooperatives: CSNC Agriculture Co., Ltd, Khmer Agro Cashew Co., Ltd, Harvest Centre (Cambodia) Co., Ltd, Mirarth Agritec Co., Ltd, Pinex Agro Co., Ltd and Giant Cashew Enterprise. Their participation signalled growing private-sector engagement in Cambodia’s expanding cashew industry. Uon Silot, President of the Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia, commended the companies that had signed purchasing contracts during previous B2B forums. “CAC continues to seek practical solutions for both farmers and buyers to help them reach mutually beneficial agreements,” he said. According to Silot, 2025 marked a record-breaking year for Cambodia’s cashew sector, with exports surpassing one million tonnes of raw cashew nuts and generating approximately $1.5 billion in revenue. He noted that CAC has already organised three B2B forums aimed at curbing the outflow of raw cashews to neighbouring countries and stabilising domestic prices. These initiatives, the association reported, have helped maintain raw cashew prices at acceptable levels over the past two years. During the forum, Silot emphasised the importance of complying with national cashew standards set by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to avoid inconsistencies in product quality. Participating companies reiterated their demand for high-quality raw cashews and pledged to offer competitive prices to suppliers who meet the required standards. To reinforce trust and transparency across the supply chain, CAC also demonstrated quality control procedures at the event. The demonstration sought to ensure that farmers and cooperatives clearly understand buyers’ specifications, grading systems and post-harvest handling requirements. The B2B forum comes amid broader efforts to enhance the value and global recognition of Cambodian cashews. Last week, farmers in Kampong Thom province held a general assembly to establish the Kampong Thom Cashew Nut Geographical Indication (GI). The GI initiative aims to promote product value, improve quality and expand exports to premium markets such as Europe and the United States. Geographical Indication status recognises products whose quality, reputation and characteristics are linked to their geographic origin. Environmental conditions, local expertise, traditional practices and historical reputation all contribute to these distinctive attributes. In a related development, Samheng Bora, Secretary of State and Chairman of the Export Promotion Task Force at the Ministry of Commerce, recently received a courtesy call from Sato Makoto, Executive Vice President and Asia Pacific Regional Chief Operating Officer of Mitsui. Their discussions focused on expanding trade cooperation and promoting Cambodian agricultural products — including cashew nuts — to international markets through Mitsui’s global network and experience. The combined efforts of industry associations, government agencies and private companies reflect a coordinated strategy to boost domestic processing, enhance quality standards and position Cambodia as a competitive player in the global cashew market.