ADB Enhances Cambodian Firms’ Capacity to Navigate International Trade Ahead of the Country’s Graduation from Least Developed Country Status
On 24–25 April in Svay Rieng and 28–29 April in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, ADB, the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and Cambodia’s Trade Training and Research Institute and Department of Export and Import organized a two-day executive training workshop to help stakeholders from the Cambodian private and public sectors better understand the international rules governing the determination of the origin of goods and preferential trade treatment.
Entitled Using Preferential Trade Arrangements and Trade Facilitating Practices of Operational Certification Procedures, the workshops brought together over 180 participants. Among them were representatives from more than 110 companies, mostly located in Cambodia’s Special Economic Zones, senior customs and other government officials, and students from Svay Rieng University.
Specialized ADB units—the Economic Research and Development Impact Department and the Law and Policy Reform Program—lent their expertise to the sessions. The interactive sessions, which included case studies and practical exercises, helped the participants deepen their understanding of how to comply with rules of origin—which determine where goods are officially considered to have been produced or manufactured—and of the procedures for certifying origin. Participants then explored strategies for leveraging trade preferences for goods from a specific origin to favor major Cambodian exports, such as textiles, bicycles, and travel goods, and for streamlining Cambodia’s supply chains.
In his opening remarks during the Sihanoukville session, Puthsodary Tat, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Commerce, emphasized the importance of strengthening the trade policy capacities of Cambodian companies to navigate global markets, enhance market access, and prevent tariff circumvention. ADB’s April training series and an earlier round in January align with this vision, particularly as Cambodia prepares for its graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status—expected as early as 2027—which could bring game-changing opportunities, but also challenges, to the country.