‘There is only thing I want to tell Turkish producers: Please, come to Cambodia,' says Sok Chenda Sophea
The Cambodian foreign minister on Monday invited the Turkish business community to discover investment opportunities in his country.
During his visit to Istanbul, Sok Chenda Sophea thanked his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan for inviting him.
Noting that this is his first official visit to Europe since he took office in August 2023, Sophea said in an interview with Anadolu that the diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Cambodia, which have completed 65 years, are “so mature.”
He pointed out the importance of reciprocal visits and spoke about the economic goals of both countries.
“We have to target $1 billion of trade, he said, adding: “At the moment, we are a bit far from that.”
“And it is the reason that should motivate all of us on both sides, the Cambodian side and the Turkish side, to work hard in order to implement, in order to achieve what leaders have decided,” he said.
Stressing the importance of his visit to Türkiye, he said the visit provided him an opportunity to connect with Turkish businesspeople.
“I will invite them,” he said, adding: “Please, just take two or three days, come to Cambodia, and you will see by yourself the reality of Cambodia.”
The Cambodian official said that Türkiye's quality products can find success in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, including his country.
Encouraging Turkish producers to explore Cambodia's “liberal business environment,” he said Cambodia is “a gateway to the region, to ASEAN.”
Turkish businesses should consider ASEAN's 630 million consumers and the Mekong region's 250 million consumers, he said, referring to the trans-national region of the Mekong River basin in Southeast Asia.
Emphasizing Cambodia's role as a strategic entry point to the larger market, he called Ankara's Asia Anew initiative a valuable opportunity for businesses.
- 4 MoUs expected to be signed
When asked if the two sides would sign agreements during his meeting with Fidan, Sophea said that there are four memorandums of understanding (MoUs) ready to be finalized and the signing ceremony is planned to be held on May 29.
Two of the agreements, he said, are about the training of law enforcement officers and cooperation between Ankara University and the Royal University of Phnom Penh.
He said the expertise-sharing from Turkish researchers and academics, particularly from Ankara University, will benefit Cambodia.
Additionally, he said another MoU will focus on media and communication, expressing admiration for Türkiye's active engagement not only at the national level but also regionally and internationally.
He underscored his country's desire to learn from Turkish counterparts in these fields.
