MoC empowers firms with trade agreement training

MoC empowers firms with trade agreement training

The Export-Import Department of the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) hosted a training session to enhance trade capacity, promote effective use of trade agreements and support regional integration and sustainable development among member countries.

The two-day executive training on ‘Using Preferential Trade Agreements and Trade Facilitating Practices of Operational Certification Procedures in Cambodia’ was held in Sihanoukville from April 28 to 29.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Tat Puthsodary, Secretary of State of MoC, and Samuth Sothearith, Deputy Governor of Sihanoukville Province, participated by Milan Thomas, Country Economist of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

During his remarks, the MoC Secretary said that the training course was designed to strengthen Cambodia’s trade readiness by addressing two key objectives.

Puthsodary explained that the first objective is to enhance the capacity of negotiators and exporting-importing companies by equipping them with essential knowledge and skills on rules of origin and certification procedures, enabling them to effectively benefit from preferential treatment under free trade agreements.

The second objective is to establish a platform for dialogue between government institutions and the private sector on the negotiation and implementation of rules of origin, thereby improving coordination and strengthening the execution of trade policies, he added.

The MoC Secretary encouraged all participants to actively engage in the presentations and case study discussions, ask open questions, and share their experiences to gain practical and meaningful insights from the training.

The seminar featured multiple sessions, each focusing on a specific aspect of rules of origin, including their importance, technical requirements, sector-specific rules, certification procedures and best practices for compliance.

The first session, “Importance of Rules of Origin for Firms: Improving Profit Margins,” provided background on their significance in international trade, their impact on utilisation rates and their role in business strategy.

The second session focused on the technical aspects of product-specific rules and compliance modalities, while the third addressed sector-specific rules of origin.

The fourth session covered Operational Certification Procedures (OCPs), and the final session, “Complying with PSROs and OCPs,” featured an exercise-based questionnaire designed to identify best practices.

All participants explored the different forms, calculation methods and compliance mechanisms related to PSROs.

khmertimeskh