THE Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy will this month host a daylong course for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) producing drinking water and ice in Phnom Penh and Kandal province, to increase production quality and bring local producers up to international standards.

Meng Saktheara, director general of industry at the ministry, said the course will be held on June 29, adding that many of Cambodia's roughly 300 drinking water and ice companies face a lack of knowledge about health regulations, causing many to offer poor-quality goods that are potentially harmful.

"It is our first step. We will offer assistance to those industries ... including both regulation and technical assistance, to help them improve their ability to produce high-quality products in compliance with international standards," he said, adding that the 80 Cambodian companies producing fish sauce and soy sauce will be offered a similar course in the future.