PHNOM PENH: The Director of the German Development Agency GIZ in Cambodia has expressed interest in the potential of the Cambodian agricultural sector and also showed support and encouragement for the export of agricultural products to international markets, especially the Chinese market.

This encouragement was made during the opening ceremony of the seminar on "Supporting German Development Cooperation in Agriculture in Cambodia and Dissemination of Guidelines for Fresh Fruit Exports to China," held on Thursday (7 April). The opening ceremony had the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Veng Sakhon, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Christian Berger, and the Director General of the German Development Agency GIZ Cambodia, Günter Riethmacher, in attendance.

Riethmacher said that the results of GIZ's cooperation with Cambodia really speaks to to the "public-private-development partners and communities" approach to contributing to agricultural productivity, agricultural diversification and agribusiness.

In addition, this cooperation has contributed to the promotion of agriculture, food security, poverty reduction, sustainable and environmentally friendly rural development, and the support of national economic growth, especially strategies to restore and promote economic growth in accordance with the Covid-19 'new normal trajectory' 2021-2023 set by the Royal Government.

Minister Veng Sakhon said that the dissemination of strategic policies for the export of Cambodian agricultural products to all stakeholders more widely includes sanitary and phytosanitary measures, which play an important role in the export of agricultural products to the international market.

He added that this is another new achievement that comes from the good cooperation between Cambodia and GIZ, and he hopes that starting from this workshop, Cambodian agricultural products will be more present in the international market, especially the Chinese market.

The Royal Government Delegate in charge of the Director General of the General Department of Agriculture, Ngin Chhay, also said that the export of Cambodia's tropical fruits to international markets, especially the Chinese market, requires special attention to meeting the mandatory phytosanitary conditions and measures.

Currently, Cambodia has the right to export bananas and mangoes to the Chinese market, while longan and tamarind are in the process of phytosanitary inspection.