PHNOM PENH: Long-awaited direct flights between Cambodia and India are set to become a reality by the end of October 2023, following a meeting between Prime Minister Hun Manet and Indian Ambassador Devyani Uttam Khobragade. While no details have been confirmed on the agreement, discussions were held between Cambodian businesspeople and Lanmei Airlines in June where Phnom Penh-New Delhi and Siem Reap-Chennai flights were proposed. The move will boost tourism and trade potential in addition to other sectors, according to the Indian ambassador.

During her meeting with the PM on October 5, the Indian ambassador said that in the field of trade, both countries have been negotiating bilateral trade preferences, and in the future, more free trade agreements will be negotiated. She added that India is also planning to expand the scope of technology to support the development of the digital economy in Cambodia.

The Indian diplomat also laid stress on the military cooperation of the two nations and congratulated the Royal Government of Cambodia on its achievements. She also highlighted the ancient historical and cultural relations between the two countries.

The ambassador ended with an invitation to Prime Minister Hun Manet to pay an official visit to India to bring a more stable and close relationship between the governments and their people.

The Cambodian PM thanked India for its support in all areas of development, including economy, trade, culture and defence and said that cooperation between the two countries was on a path of continuous development. He also expressed the hope that they would further expand the existing cooperation in the fields of investment, cyber security and other areas of mutual benefit.

^SOURCE:AKP