Phnom penh: Cambodian rice miller and exporter City Rice Import Export Co., Ltd. has signed a 10,000-tonne rice purchase agreement with DILAI Trading Co., Pte Ltd. for export to the Philippines. Minister of Commerce H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul presided over the signing ceremony at the Ministry of Commerce, attended by ministry officials, representatives of the Philippine Embassy, industry leaders, and other distinguished guests.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the agreement marks a significant milestone for Cambodia's rice sector and is expected to further strengthen trade ties between Cambodia and the Philippines. Speaking at the ceremony, City Rice Import Export CEO Oknha Lay Chhun Hour described the deal as a new development for Cambodia's rice industry, highlighting the growing confidence of international buyers in the quality, safety, competitiveness, and supply capacity of Cambodian rice.
He emphasized that the agreement also showcases the ability of Cambodian companies to process rice, ensure quality, and transport large volumes to international markets efficiently. Oknha Chhun Hour, who is also President of the Cambodia Rice Federation, noted that this 10,000-tonne export agreement is just the beginning of a new chapter for Cambodian rice exports to the Philippine market.
The initial shipment is expected to lay the groundwork for long-term trade relations and potentially lead to regular exports, benefiting rice farmers, millers, transport operators, and other businesses in the rice value chain. City Rice plans to continue investing in quality control, technology, processing capacity, and supply systems while collaborating with relevant ministries, financial institutions, the Cambodia Rice Federation, farmers, and international partners.
H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul praised City Rice's achievements and thanked DILAI Trading for selecting Cambodia as a rice supply partner, highlighting the strategic step towards expanding Cambodia's rice export markets, strengthening food security, and deepening economic cooperation between Cambodia and the Philippines.
The Minister called on both companies to implement the agreement with professionalism, accountability, transparency, and close cooperation. She also urged stakeholders across the rice value chain, including the Cambodia Rice Federation, to improve rice quality, food safety, and packaging standards while fully implementing the Cambodia Rice Export Market Expansion and Diversification Strategy 2025-2030, which aims to boost the competitiveness of Cambodian rice and expand its presence in international markets.