Connecting Vietnam - Cambodia trade: Many potentials and opportunities

Deputy Secretary of State of the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia Tith Rithipol (second from left) and Member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Thanh (right cover) visit some booths at the Conference connecting production, distribution and logistics enterprises between Vietnam and Cambodia

Positive growth - open opportunities

Speaking at the Conference connecting production, distribution and logistics enterprises between Vietnam and Cambodia held in Tay Ninh province recently, Ms. Phan Thi Thang, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, said that in recent times, the two countries have had many bilateral agreements, such as the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding on border infrastructure development, the 2024 Border Trade Agreement, and the Agreement on promoting bilateral trade in the period 2025-2026.

The trade and circulation of goods between Vietnam and Cambodia has many advantages

“The implementation of the above agreements has contributed to promoting the development of border gate infrastructure, border markets, warehouses and logistics services in border provinces, shortening customs clearance time, improving supply chain connectivity. At the same time, it creates conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to expand cooperation with Cambodian partners, promote products, improve competitiveness, thereby contributing to local economic development and strengthening the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries” - Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang emphasized.

Vietnamese and Cambodian partners learn about Tam Lan tea products

In 2024, two-way trade turnover reached about 10.1 billion USD (up 17.5%). Since the beginning of 2025, two-way trade turnover has exceeded 7 billion USD, up 16.3% over the same period, in which Vietnam exported goods to Cambodia with a value of about 3.2 billion USD (up 5.1%), imported goods about 3.8 billion USD (up 28.1%). The proportion of industrial-energy goods dominated Vietnam's exports; agricultural products accounted for a large proportion of imports from Cambodia.

Deputy Secretary of State of the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia Tith Rithipol affirmed that Vietnam is one of the leading and reliable trade partners of Cambodia. The room for cooperation between the two countries is still very large thanks to the complementarity between the two economies, geographical proximity and increasingly favorable investment and business environment.

Currently, Cambodia is implementing the Pentagon Strategy - Phase I, focusing on institutional reform, technology application, reducing business costs and improving competitiveness. This is an opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to expand investment in potential areas such as modern agriculture, food processing, automobile industry, digital technology, finance, logistics, tourism and creative industries.

"Cambodia is ready to cooperate closely with Vietnam to promote production, distribution and logistics connectivity, contributing to enhancing bilateral trade, regional integration and bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries" - Deputy Secretary of State of the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia Tith Rithipol emphasized.

Tay Ninh—a key trade gateway

Cambodian rice products attract domestic enterprises

Tay Ninh, the southern border province of Vietnam has a 368.695km long border with 4 international border gates, 3 main border gates, 13 secondary border gates, 14 openings and Ben Luc Port Border Crossing, which is becoming a key connection point in the Vietnam-Cambodia trade strategy. Import and export turnover in 2025 has exceeded 2 billion USD, up 17% over the same period. Key export items include textiles, footwear, machinery, while imports are mainly raw materials, accessories and agricultural products such as cashew nuts, rubber, etc.

“After the merger, Tay Ninh has become a new growth pole, ranking among the 10 localities with the largest economic scale in the country. In terms of infrastructure, Tay Ninh owns 46 industrial parks and 50 industrial clusters with more than 1,000 hectares of clean land ready to welcome investors. The province is planning 14 logistics centers and prioritizing resources to complete dynamic axes, expressways, and arterial belt roads, connecting smoothly from industrial parks to seaports; intra-provincial connecting routes, creating smooth connections, helping goods move easily from industrial parks and industrial clusters to seaports and key economic areas,” Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Thanh said.

With an important strategic location, Tay Ninh has formed a closed supply chain from production - warehousing - transportation - export across the border. This not only helps optimize logistics costs but also opens up opportunities to promote official exports to Cambodia, taking advantage of incentives from bilateral and multilateral trade agreements between Vietnam and countries in the region.

Therefore, in recent years, many enterprises in Tay Ninh such as Thanh Thanh Cong - Bien Hoa Joint Stock Company, Duc Thanh Company Limited, Tam Lan Tea Company Limited, agricultural cooperatives, etc. have actively expanded border trade activities, invested in logistics infrastructure and developed export markets to Cambodia. Industries such as agriculture, processed food, construction materials, consumer goods, etc. are gradually asserting their position in the neighboring market.

Tay Ninh Province and the Ministry of Industry and Trade actively support enterprises in accessing the Cambodian market through preferential policies, market information support, simplification of administrative procedures and strengthening of border infrastructure connectivity.

However, according to enterprises' assessments, in reality, import and export between Vietnam and Cambodia still face many obstacles, such as complicated and overlapping procedures; unsynchronized technology; logistics costs; limitations in transport infrastructure and border gates; differences in legal procedures; limited capacity of small and medium enterprises in participating in cross-border value chains; ineffective bilateral coordination on quarantine and quality control, etc.

Facing that situation, Deputy Secretary of State of the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia Tith Rithipol emphasized a number of areas in which Cambodia and Vietnam can consider closer cooperation, specifically modernizing border trade infrastructure; strengthening logistics and transport connectivity.

On the side of Tay Ninh province, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Thanh informed that the province is committed to creating the most favorable conditions in terms of infrastructure, land, resources and investment environment so that enterprises can feel secure in production, business and long-term cooperation./.

By V.N - Translated by Q. Thien

Source: https://baolongan.vn/ket-noi-giao-thuong-viet-nam-campuchia-nhieu-tiem-nang-va-co-hoi-a203426.html