The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce have agreed to cooperate and pursue investment opportunities of mutual interests.
Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said both countries have young populations, creating opportunities for collaboration in skills development, labor force training, and tapping into growing consumer markets.
“There is strong complementarity in agricultural exports ( from Cambodia) and electronics technology (from the Philippines), with both countries benefiting from more efficient regional trade,” the trade and industry official said.
The business groups will focus on agriculture and food processing, information and digital technology, manufacturing, tourism, and services, he said.
“These complementarities offer tremendous opportunities for business partnerships that can truly benefit both our countries,” Enunina Mangio, PCCI president, said in her welcome remarks at the signing of a memorandum of understanding of the chambers between Cambodia and the PCCI during the Cambodia Business Forum in Makati City on Monday.
The agreement will provide a framework for regular business exchanges, trade and investment missions, and information sharing between the business groups.
“Cambodia’s remarkable economic transformation and the Philippines’ robust growth trajectory create natural synergies and huge potential for expanded business collaboration. Our economies complement each other in many sectors,” Mangio said in the same event.
Rodolfo said the Philippines excels in electronics manufacturing and services, while Cambodia is strong in textiles and basic manufacturing.
“This creates potential for collaboration in manufacturing and export,” he added.
In agriculture, the trade official said Cambodia can supply the Philippines with raw agricultural products such as rice, rubber, and cassava which can then be processed and exported.
On the other hand, the Philippines can offer expertise in services such as business process outsourcing, digital services, and education to help Cambodia build its services sector.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed total trade between Cambodia and the Philppines stood at $80 million in 2024.
