Phnom Penh, July 3, 2024 – A roundtable discussion aimed at diversifying Cambodia's economic diplomacy strategy was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Phnom Penh on July 2. The event, titled "Diversifying Options for Cambodia's Economic Diplomacy Strategy: German and Southeast Asian Perspectives," was co-organized by the National Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations (NIDIR) and the Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Cambodia.

The gathering saw the participation of approximately 40 attendees, including high-ranking officials from various ministries, industry experts, and representatives from several embassies and the private sector within Cambodia.

Lim Visal, Secretary of State and Director of Cabinet of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hun Sen, inaugurated the event. He highlighted the alignment of the ministry’s Economic Diplomacy strategy with the Royal Government of Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy, emphasizing its significance in the nation’s development agenda.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reported that the discussions centered on three main themes: the development and implementation of the Economic Diplomacy Strategy 2021-2023, Cambodia’s investment strategy as viewed by the Council for the Development of Cambodia, and a case study analysis of a Southeast Asian country that has achieved economic growth. The forum focused on identifying strengths and opportunities in the context of current geopolitical tensions, which are critical for shaping Cambodia's economic future.