Members of the Asian communities in Cambodia gathered at the Chenla Theatre on Saturday night, watching cultural performances from throughout the region.

Organised by the Indian Association Cambodia (IAC), the Asian Food and Cultural Nite aimed at presenting Asia’s cultural richness and enabling exchange between the Asian communities in Cambodia.

The event included performances from Cambodia, India, Vietnam and the Philippines.

After a successful start last year, the IAC plans to hold the event annually.

“It’s just for us to get to know each other,” said Deepika Borges, joint secretary of the IAC.

She said the IAC approached all Asian countries for the event, but due to the ASEAN meet, many of the embassies were busy.

According to Deepak Sehgal, a volunteer at the IAC, the various Asian communities in Cambodia can help boosting the country’s economy.

“There are a lot of skills that you don’t find here in Cambodia,” the teacher said.

For example, he said there is no medicine manufactured in Cambodia.

“All medicines are brought in from other countries. So there is a lot that can be done for this country from other Asian countries,” he said.

Deepika Borges said she thinks the Indian community is the biggest Asian community in Cambodia. She said many Indians here are either teachers or involved in export and import businesses, particularly within the pharmaceutical field.

On Saturday, the IAC also invited restaurants serving food from different parts of Asia.

To contact the reporter on this story: Anne Renzenbrink at [email protected]