France-Cambodia Business Forum 2024: ‘Making the Kingdom a growth market for ASEAN’

According to the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Cambodia (CCIFC), ‘with a presentation of the Cambodian economic system in its entirety, this forum will provide an opportunity to get to know the market better and find out how it is possible to locate in the Kingdom’.

François Corbin, Vice-President of the Mouvement des Entreprises de France International (MEDEF International), had already taken part in the France-Cambodia Business Forum in Phnom Penh on 9 and 10 June 2022.

Following the highly successful launch of its first edition in 2022, the France-Cambodia Business Forum, co-organised by the France-Cambodia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the French Foreign Trade Advisors, is returning this year from 8 to 10 July 2024 with the ambition of ‘better presenting the Cambodian market and helping to raise the Kingdom's profile within international cooperation’.

Bringing together members of the French business community based in Cambodia, as well as representatives from neighbouring countries and companies keen to learn more about the Cambodian market, the Forum's three days will focus on the Kingdom's economic prospects and opportunities, taking place on Monday 8 July at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, at the Raffles Hotel le Royal on 9 July and finally in Sihanoukville on 10 July.

High-quality Franco-Khmer collaboration

In partnership with the Cambodia Committee of French Foreign Trade Advisors (CCEF) and with the support of the French Embassy in Cambodia, MEDEF International and the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC), the France-Cambodia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFC) is co-organising this second edition with even greater ambition, particularly in view of the presence of numerous officials from the Cambodian and French governments. According to the CCIFC,

According to the CCIFC, ‘This Franco-Cambodian cooperation bears witness to a historic, rich and growing bilateral relationship between the two countries, particularly with the current involvement of the governments of both countries in reviving and boosting their relationship.’

French investment in the Kingdom has risen to around €560 million, particularly in the construction, agro-industry and services sectors.

French exports to Cambodia in 2023, amounting to €171m, have seen a significant increase of 31% compared with 2022. The main products exported by France are agri-food products (€47m), pharmaceuticals (€46.9m), and metallurgy and metal products (€35.8m). French imports from Cambodia reached €1,192m in 2023, down 9% year-on-year.

France mainly imports textiles, clothing, leather and footwear (€1,085m), agri-food products (€73m, particularly rice) and bicycles (€15m).

In total, the volume of bilateral trade will amount to €1,363m in 2023, down 5% on the record level of €1,441m in 2022. France is currently Cambodia's 2nd largest trading partner in Europe, behind Germany.

A business event in tune with the Royal Government

This year's Forum follows on from the visit of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Hun Manet, to France on 18 and 19 January 2024, where memorandums of understanding were signed in key sectors such as energy, infrastructure and distribution, ‘illustrating a new era of cooperation between France and Cambodia’.

This renewal of Franco-Cambodian bilateral relations reveals the existence of a dynamic business fabric within economic cooperation. The Forum will cover a wide range of business sectors in the Kingdom, including construction and infrastructure, digital technology, health, energy, urban planning, tourism, logistics and transport, agriculture and agri-food, as well as sustainable development and the environment. Charles Julliard, Executive Director of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Cambodia (CCIFC), said: ’France is keen to take a greater interest in Asia, and in Cambodia in particular’.

Programme

Day 1: Cambodia, a strategic gateway to the ASEAN market

Following an opening panel discussion, the legal and commercial aspects of the investment process in Cambodia will be presented, with contributions from Neak Oknha Kith Meng, President of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce (CCC), François Corbin, Vice-President of the Mouvement des Entreprises de France International (MEDEF International), Arnaud Darc, President of the Conseillers du Commerce extérieur de la France (CCEF) in Cambodia and Sun Chanthol, Vice-President of the Conseil du développement économique du Cambodge (CDC).

Industrial attractiveness will also be discussed in the presence of H.E. Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Sok Siphana, Advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia and Neak Oknha Sear Rithi, CEO of Worldbridge Group.

Afterwards, discussion workshops and question-and-answer sessions will provide companies with an overview of the Kingdom's ecosystem and Cambodian policies and priorities, particularly in view of the country's growing and rapid development. The workshops will focus mainly on infrastructure, logistics, agriculture and agri-food, the Kingdom's four key economic sectors. However, the health and energy sectors will also be addressed.

On this first day, companies attending will also be able to take part in B2B (Business to Business) and BEG (Business to Government) discussion sessions, meeting with H.E Peng Ponea, Cambodia's Minister of Public Works and Transport, H.E Dith Tina, Cambodia's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, H.E Chheang Ra, Cambodia's Minister of Health and H.E Keo Rottanak, Minister of Mines and Energy.

This first day will end at the residence of the French Embassy in Cambodia and the representatives of French and Cambodian companies will be able to engage in initial discussions following this first day of the Forum.

Day 2: The Cambodian market, through the experience of entrepreneurs

The second day of the Forum will offer a concrete vision of the economic and legal prospects for French companies based in Cambodia or those interested in the Kingdom's market. These prospects will be presented by Mr Emmanuel Ly-Batallan, Head of the Economic Department of the French Embassy in Cambodia, and the legal consultancy firm DFDL Cambodia. These information presentations will be followed by question-and-answer sessions on various topics, including public and private financing in Cambodia with Ms Sandrine Boucher, Regional Director of Agence Française de Développement (AFD) (Cambodia) and Mr Nicolas Hollanders, Managing Director of BRED Bank Cambodia. Afterwards, participants will be able to take part in round-table discussions with French entrepreneurs based in Cambodia.

The aim of these exchanges and sharing of experiences is to explore as many sectors as possible, including tourism, digital with French Tech Phnom Penh, distribution, construction, health and energy, logistics and transport, agriculture and agri-food, sustainable development and the environment. This second day will end with a reception at the Council for the Development of Cambodia, attended by Cambodian officials from the business community in partnership with the Oknha Cambodian Association (ACO), where investors and forum participants will once again be able to continue their discussions.

Day 3: The new face of Sihanoukville

To bring the Forum to a close, participants will be travelling to Sihanoukville to discover the new face of the coastal province, rather than leaving with just a vision of the economic opportunities in Phnom Penh. This geographical extension of the forum will enable participants to understand the prospects for development in Sihanoukville, thanks in particular to the presence of H.E. Kuoch Chamroeun, Governor of the province, and H.E. Long Dimanche, Deputy Governor. To conclude, participants will be able to visit Sihanoukville and more specifically its airport, its Special Economic Zone and its autonomous port.

This second edition will be a great opportunity for French companies to understand the potential for economic growth in the Kingdom and to forge links with strategic partners, political decision-makers and local experts.

Official poster of the France-Cambodia Business Forum from 8 to 10 July 2024

To find out more about the event and book a place : https://fafc2024.grweb.site/

For more information on the programme : https://fafc2024.grweb.site/events