Cambodia and Vietnam are set to jointly host the first virtual Vietnam Defense-Economic Exposition (Videx) 2021 in Hanoi from December 14-17, according to the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce.

As a purported facilitator for the Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh and the Videx organising committee, the ministry has invited Cambodian companies in services and industry of all sizes to participate in the exhibition, to help boost Cambodia-Vietnam economic and trade cooperation.

Le Bien Cuong, a consultant for the expo, told The Post on November 17 that his team and the ministry are currently “very busy” organising the event, keeping in touch with a gradually increasing roster of interested companies.

Although noting that there are many challenges involved, given that this would be the first online exhibition organised by the two countries, Cuong expects many companies to take part, even if the event is virtual.

The embassy reported that the bilateral trade volume between Cambodia and Vietnam reached $6.034 billion in January-July, increasing by 106 per cent year-on-year, as both countries amp up their battles against the novel coronavirus and its more virulent variants.

Unless virus outbreaks worsen or an economic downturn of unusual and unexpected proportions occurs, two-way trade should be on track to hit the $10 billion target – set by the political leaders of both countries for 2023 – by the end of this year.

The embassy said in a September 1 statement that the two nations are “reliable partners” in the promotion of cooperation, based on equality, efficiency and mutual benefit for sustainable development for the people of both countries.