April 21, 2026
PHNOM PENH – Prime Minister Hun Manet has announced the Kingdom’s plans to expand cooperation with the government of Canada across all sectors, both bilaterally and multilaterally, particularly in trade.
He met with Canadian ambassador to Cambodia Christian DesRoches at the Peace Palace this morning, April 20.
DesRoches praised the long-standing diplomatic ties between Cambodia and Canada and highlighted the progress in bilateral relations, especially in trade, as well as Canadian investment in the Kingdom. He added that Canada remains strongly committed to deepening and expanding cooperation with Cambodia, particularly in the economic sector.
He emphasised Canada’s commitment to supporting Cambodia’s preparations as host of the upcoming 20th Francophonie Summit, expressing confidence in its success and confirming that a high-level Canadian delegation will attend the event.
The ambassador also thanked Cambodia for its support in promoting Canada–ASEAN economic cooperation and in advancing negotiations on the ASEAN–Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA), which is expected to be concluded and signed in the near future.
Manet expressed confidence that under DesRoches’ diplomatic tenure, bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries will continue to grow stronger and deeper. He also thanked Canada for its significant contributions to Cambodia’s peace process and its socio-economic rehabilitation and development.
He noted that the Cambodian government instructed the Ministry of Commerce and the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC) to establish a representative office in Canada to serve as a bridge for expanding economic cooperation and identifying new opportunities to further boost trade and investment between the two countries.
“The Cambodian government is ready to continue strengthening and expanding relations and cooperation between Cambodia and Canada, both bilaterally and internationally,” he said.
Both sides also discussed enhancing cooperation in key areas such as trade, investment and the economy, national defence and security, as well as combating transnational crime.
Lim Heng, CCC vice-president, told The Post that Cambodia has a CCC representative office in Canada, which helps promote Cambodian products to Canadian consumers and provides information to attract direct investment.
He explained that the reason Cambodia exports a large volume of goods to Canada is due to specific preferential tariff schemes. Major exports include garments, travel goods, footwear, bicycles, and electronic and electrical components, while Canadian imports from Canada include electronics and vehicles, among others.
“Canada is a major market for Cambodia’s garments, footwear and travel goods. If global economic growth improves and tourism increases, orders for these products will certainly rise further,” he said.
According to the General Department of Customs and Excise, total trade between Cambodia and Canada reached $1.33 billion in 2025, an increase of 14% over 2024. The Kingdom exported $1.27 billion worth of goods to Canada, up 14.6%, while importing $63.41 million, up 14%.
In the first quarter of 2026, total trade between the two countries reached $297.05 million, a 0.9% increase compared to the first quarter of 2025. Exports amounted to $277.73 million, down 1.6%, while Canadian imports rose to $19.32 million, up 59.3%.