Philippine-Cambodian rice deal still on hold

Four months after the Philippines and Cambodia signed an agreement to increase rice trade, the plan is stuck in limbo.

Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia Noe Wong and Cambodian Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh signed a deal in April for the Philippine National Food Authority to import rice through the Cambodian state-owned enterprise Green Trade.

Thon Virak, Green Trade’s director, said yesterday that the company is waiting to schedule a meeting because relevant partners are busy preparing for the election.

“We are still waiting for the delegation from the Philippines to come here for a detailed discussion,” Virak said. “We plan to send the invitation letter to them, but need to wait for Cambodia’s new government to form after the national election.”

Last year, a similar agreement between Cambodia and the Philippines was also planned but could not be finalised after Cambodia reportedly delayed a decision to lower prices to levels the Philippines was demanding.

The Philippines aims to achieve rice sufficiency this year but is planning to import around 187,000 tonnes of rice for stocks.

Contact author: Hor Kimsay

MOST VIEWED

12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star
Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an
Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter
Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was
Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition
Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He
Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia
A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication
Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills
A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,
New Law on Taxation comes into effect
Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom