First Lady Pich Chanmony has urged Cambodian producers to raise the quality, safety and presentation of their goods as the government seeks to strengthen small businesses and expand the market for locally made products.
Speaking at the opening of the Cambodia Products Exhibition 2026 in Phnom Penh, Chanmony said consumer confidence depended on products being safe, hygienic, attractively packaged and fairly priced. The three-day event at the Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Ce...
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ntre was held under the theme “Khmer Can Do It: Join in Promoting and Supporting Local Products.”
The exhibition was designed to showcase Cambodian goods and help producers build stronger brands, while creating opportunities to meet buyers and potential business partners. A business-matching forum during the event brought companies and institutions together to discuss possible cooperation.
Chanmony said farmers, craftspeople, young entrepreneurs and women-led businesses contributed to the economy through production, innovation and job creation. She argued that buying high-quality domestic goods could help strengthen businesses and livelihoods, but added that public support and government policy would not, on their own, ensure commercial success.
For local firms, the longer-term test will be whether exposure at an exhibition leads to continuing sales, wider distribution and reliable commercial relationships. A preview by Angkor Times noted that the event was expected to feature 200 booths, spanning areas including processed food, agriculture, handicrafts, garments and technology. It also highlighted the importance of consistent quality, competitive prices and product availability in building lasting consumer demand.
Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many described the exhibition as a joint public- and private-sector effort to increase domestic production and economic independence. He said the event offered businesses a chance to present their goods, exchange knowledge and establish connections, including in supply chains for everyday consumer products.
The gathering comes as Cambodia implements a national strategy for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises covering 2026 to 2030. The Ministry of Information reported that Prime Minister Hun Manet launched the strategy in Phnom Penh on 22 October 2026. The government’s economic and finance data portal describes it as a framework for coordinated support, with priorities including a better business environment and stronger enterprise competitiveness.
The strategy’s aims include raising productivity, encouraging technology and innovation, improving standards and widening access to finance and markets. Cambodianess has also reported that the plan addresses obstacles such as limited access to capital, shortages of technical expertise, rising production costs, import competition and administrative complexity.
The scale of the sector makes those challenges significant. According to figures from Cambodia’s 2022 Economic Census cited by the Ministry of Information, the country had about 753,670 business establishments and enterprises, including 60,503 small and medium-sized enterprises. The ministry said MSMEs employed around 2.98 million people, more than 1.84 million of them women.
Chanmony said the exhibition’s value should be measured by the business links and market opportunities that remain after it closes. Its wider message was that local purchasing can support domestic firms, but that lasting growth will also depend on producers’ ability to meet consumer expectations and compete on quality, price and reliability.
Source: Noah Wire Services
