Economy: Strengthening regional economies and Cambodian confidence in local brands

The Cambodian Ministry of Commerce and PTT have announced plans to expand sales of domestic products in 19 provinces and the capital through Café Amazon outlets and convenience stores at PTT service stations.

According to the company's website, by August 2023, there were 169 PTT Station branches, 231 Café Amazon branches

This initiative follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on January 17, 2025, which aims to strengthen regional economies and consumer confidence in local brands.

The project will offer a selection of products, including agricultural products such as organic rice, Kampot pepper and tropical fruits, handicrafts such as silks, pottery and traditional Khmer jewelry, and processed food products such as fish sauce, palm sugar and herbal teas.

Priority will be given to small businesses, agricultural cooperatives and businesses run by women. The operational framework includes year-round displays, with weekend promotions.

The Ministry of Commerce will coordinate with provincial departments to streamline supply chains, addressing past problems such as inconsistent stock deliveries and packaging standards.

The initiative directly supports the integration objectives of the ASEAN Economic Community to improve the competitiveness of domestic products. It also aims to bring about a certain change in the mindset of Cambodian consumers, countering the “import trend” and creating jobs for over 5,000 small-scale producers and craftsmen.

Challenges and solutions identified include gaps in the supply chain, consumer confidence and coordination between provincial departments and the PTT.

This collaboration aligns with the priorities of Cambodia's Public-Private Partnership (PPP) 2025-2035, focusing on the development of the retail sectors, and complements the Royal Government's ambitions to digitize supply chains and expand e-commerce integration for local producers.

The company's plans finally include the introduction of “Khmer product corners” in all Café Amazon outlets by the third quarter of 2025, the launch of a co-branded packaging initiative with PTT to highlight the origin of products, and the expansion of exports to PTT's regional networks in Thailand and Laos.