Cambodia's diplomats should use their posts to seek out further investments in the Kingdom, Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday told a closed-door meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to an official who was present.

The premier encouraged a gathering of ambassadors and consuls-general to maintain Cambodia’s already strong relationships with the US and European Union, while also promoting trade and investment in Southeast Asia, East Asia and the Middle East, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Koy Kuong, who was at the meeting, said.

“They have to be pushing for every kind of investment, both on a large and a small scale,” he said, adding that the Middle East could become a destination for Cambodian rice.  

With the Kingdom chairing ASEAN this year, Hun Sen said diplomats should use the nation’s role as a chance to study the region’s markets, according to Koy Kuong.

Relevant information should be reported to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so the government could ensure Cambodia was working to meet that regional demand, he said.

Hun Sen also said the government expected gross domestic product growth of at least six per cent in 2012, according to Koy Kuong.

In December, the International Monetary Fund projected 7.25 per cent GDP growth for 2012 and the World Bank 6.5 per cent, the Post previously reported.