Cambodian and Chinese investors have jointly invested about $8 million to build a fruit processing plant in Preah Sihanouk province.
Preah Sihanouk Provincial Hall spokesman Kheang Phearum told The Post that Shang Da Jian Hui International Agriculture Product and Logistic Co Ltd is in the process of constructing a fruit processing plant for mango, cashew nuts, pineapples and bananas in the province’s northernmost Kampong Seila district.
Provincial governor Kuoch Chamroeun told reporters that he had led specialist officials and relevant authorities to visit the plant recently, and expressed his support. “I will simplify all the procedures for the factory to operate because they can absorb mangoes and other fruits from the people for processing and that can contribute to the economy.”
Cambodia and China on Tuesday officially agreed to export 500,000 tonnes of fresh mangoes a year, paving the way for boosting the Kingdom’s agricultural crop exports to the Chinese market.
At the signing ceremony, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon said China’s annual need for about eight million tonnes of fresh mangoes provides considerable opportunity to capitalise on the market. Fresh mangoes are the second fruit to be officially permitted for export to China after yellow bananas were approved last year, he said.
At the same time, he also encouraged partnerships with local and foreign investors from China to expand cultivation areas and improve techniques for sterilising crops and exterminating pests for export. In January, Cambodia and South Korea signed an agreement to allow Cambodia to export mangoes directly through Hyundai Mao Legacy Co Ltd.
The nation exported 44,099 tonnes of fresh mangoes during the first five months of this year, an increase of around 14,885 tonnes or 50.96 per cent compared to the same period last year, ministry data show. Last year, it exported 58,162 tonnes of fresh mangoes to six markets – Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, France, Russia and Hong Kong.