How relocalisation of Khmer products is fast gaining a foothold

How relocalisation of Khmer products is fast gaining a foothold

Never before have local products received such overwhelming support from the length and breadth of the Kingdom as they did in the last few months. A sense of belongingness pervaded the national psyche, specially after the Royal Government called for a boycott of Thai products following the border conflict.

The ‘Buy Khmer, Use Khmer’ campaign caught the imagination of the ordinary Cambodian and became the turning point following the tensions emanating at the border. The resolve of common people in the street had a cascading effect: people started ignoring Thai products, instead preferred Khmer ones. But more importantly, supporting local products is not simply a matter of economics; it is about strengthening the livelihoods of farmers, workers, and small businesses nationwide. After all, every purchase of a Cambodian-made product contributes directly to job creation, community development, and economic growth. Domestic demand shot significantly as local companies and enterprises are gradually becoming more established, while people are increasingly valuing domestic products over imported ones. Khmer Times examines this massive shift and the possible impact it will have on the Cambodian economy in the days to come

Local products are not only items of trade but also symbols of national pride, culture, and identity. From Kampot pepper and Cambodian rice to handmade crafts and traditional textiles, these products tell the story of the Cambodian people, their history, and their resilience.

Supporting local products is not simply a matter of economics; it is about strengthening the livelihoods of farmers, workers, and small businesses nationwide.

Every purchase of a Cambodian-made product contributes directly to job creation, community development, and economic growth. However, maintaining this strong stance among Cambodian consumers requires consistent efforts, especially in the face of cheaper or more widely marketed imports.

What should be done to ensure that the Cambodian people continue to support local products? To answer this, it is necessary to consider strategies that range from improving product quality and strengthening national pride to government support, private sector involvement, and consumer education. Only by combining these efforts can Cambodia build a future where its people proudly embrace local products as part of their daily lives and national identity

Supporting Cambodian products

One of the government’s key initiatives is the ‘Buy Khmer, Use Khmer’ campaign. This national effort aims to raise public awareness about the value of Cambodian products, encouraging consumers to make a conscious choice to support local producers.

The government also actively supports Cambodian products in reaching international markets. Trade fairs, exhibitions, and international partnerships have helped showcase Cambodian goods on the global stage. By facilitating export opportunities, the Royal Government of Cambodia ensures that Cambodian products gain visibility, credibility, and competitiveness worldwide.

The Royal Government has demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting local products, ensuring that the citizens support their own industries while preserving cultural identity and boosting national economic growth.

In a recent Cambodian Products Exhibition held under the theme ‘Khmer Can Do’, Hun Many, Minister of Civil Service and also President of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC), said the event aims to showcase Cambodian products and encourage greater participation in promoting and supporting local goods.

He emphasised that this effort is essential for strengthening local production capacity, creating opportunities for Cambodian citizens, and boosting the national economy. The exhibition also provided a platform for local traders, businesspeople, entrepreneurs, and companies to display their products, promote their brands, and connect with potential business partners.

Many highlighted that the determination, dedication, and active participation of Cambodian citizens in supporting local products provide invaluable motivation for companies, factories, enterprises, handicrafts, and producers across the country.

He called for “expanding the use of local raw materials and equipment within production chains to strengthen domestic industries and create more job opportunities for our people.”

“Participation is key. Everyone must come together, hand in hand, to form a strong community that reflects our spirit, unity, and national pride, not only for today but for the future of our Kingdom of Cambodia.”

In a different context, Aun Pornmoniroth, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance (MEF), said that Cambodia has an open market where domestic and imported products compete directly.

He explained that Cambodian consumers have the right to choose goods according to their needs, with price, hygiene, quality, and quantity serving as the main factors in their purchasing decisions.

“However, production to meet domestic demand has begun to rise significantly. Local companies and enterprises are gradually becoming more established, while Cambodian people are increasingly valuing domestic products over imported ones,” he said.

“Our domestic products now cover a wide range, including processed foods, spices, food accessories, cosmetics, agricultural goods, industrial products, and many other everyday items that meet domestic needs and can replace imported goods.”

Following the tensions with neighbouring Thailand, local producers, industrialists, and artisans have been striving to establish, strengthen, and expand their production.

Given the grim situation, Pornmoniroth saw three key opportunities for local companies and enterprises: first to promote local products more widely and gain greater consumer recognition;

second to strengthen and appropriately expand production capacity to meet people’s needs; and last one is to identify and capture new markets.

However, to fully seize these opportunities, local companies and enterprises must work to build and sustain consumer trust by delivering quality, hygienic, and affordable products and services.

“I believe that the growing support for local products, both now and in the future, will further motivate and enable local companies and enterprises to strengthen and expand their production capacity more effectively.”

Local support on the rise

From an economic perspective, supporting local products is one of the most effective ways Cambodians can contribute to national growth. When people purchase locally made goods, the money remains within the country and circulates across communities, rather than flowing abroad through imports. This strengthens Cambodia’s economy from the ground up. Speaking at the ‘A Land of Opportunity’ forum in the Cambodian Products Exhibition, Sear Rithy, Chairman of the WorldBridge Group, urged Cambodians to maintain a long-term nationalist mindset so that producers can continue to grow sustainably.

“I would like to appeal to all our compatriots to uphold a lasting national spirit and a sense of solidarity to support our producers. I also encourage everyone to strengthen this nationalist mindset, which is an important value that we already have today,” he said.

Rithy added that it is equally important to change consumer habits. In the past, many people favoured foreign products over Cambodian ones, but shifting this mindset would create more opportunities for local producers to expand production.

Meanwhile, Leang Meng, Co-Founder of Chip Mong, expressed appreciation for the growing change in consumer behavior and the increasing support for local products, which he said helps promote production and stimulate the national economy.

He noted that the shift toward using Cambodian products has allowed citizens to recognise that local goods meet quality standards equal to those of foreign products, as Cambodian production now also applies modern technology.

SMEs backbone of economy

Domestic demand not only drives economic growth but also creates jobs and income opportunities, particularly in rural areas where agriculture, handicrafts, and small businesses remain vital sources of livelihood. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the backbone of Cambodia’s economy, benefit directly from a stronger local market. With increased support, these enterprises can expand their operations, innovate, and compete more effectively both at home and abroad.

Speaking to Khmer Times, Hong Vannak, an economist at the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), said he has observed growing momentum in support for local products, which he believes is beneficial not only for consumers but also for industrialists, producers, and enterprises engaged in local production.

“Now, I think it is time for the Khmer people to change the mindset of valuing foreign products, especially those from Thailand. In international trade, product and market exchanges are normal, but when we overvalue foreign goods, it leads to reduced support for national and local products. This, in turn, causes economic losses, erodes cultural identity, and weakens opportunities to strengthen and expand local products that could also be exported to foreign consumers,” he stressed.

Vannak further explained that this is the right moment for consumers, authorities, and stakeholders at the national level to promote cooperation with industrialists, producers, and enterprises engaged in Cambodian production. He emphasised that they must work together to enhance the quality of Cambodian products, ensuring they are attractive to domestic consumers, especially Cambodian citizens, while also positioning them for wider recognition abroad.

He said that once local products become deeply rooted in the minds of Cambodians, the image of those companies and enterprises will naturally stay in the hearts of consumers. This creates a production process that drives socio-economic circulation within Cambodia, reducing the outflow of currency abroad compared to before.

Therefore, promoting the SME sector and expanding local production bring significant benefits to Cambodia’s socio-economic development. All financial circulation remains within the country, rather than flowing out through excessive imports.

“As a long-term strategy, this approach not only ensures economic growth but also strengthens Cambodia’s economic resilience. We are doing well, but what we need to import should be limited to raw materials or goods that cannot yet be produced locally,” Vannak added.

He stressed that what must be done is to guarantee product quality is build a strong and reliable market, and clearly position and promote Cambodian products. At the same time, it is essential to prevent fraud or counterfeit products that could harm domestic consumers.

“I believe that when citizens truly recognise and trust the quality of Cambodian products, and when these products can permanently replace imports, Cambodian goods will secure a strong foothold in the domestic market. Beyond that, we will create greater added value as more factories and enterprises expand production inside the country, delivering real benefits for our people and for our nation,” he said.

Support for local products has indeed increased dramatically during the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, causing Cambodians to boycott Thai goods and turn to local products, which has spurred a sense of nationalism.

At the same time, however, he also asked the Royal Government to tighten its controls by examining the import of products from abroad, whether from Thailand or any other country, to clearly examine the quality, safety, and chemicals that may harm Cambodian citizens.

Tech went on to add that the government must also create policies, laws, taxes, or other incentives to support local producers so that they can increase their production with quality and make profits to supply the local market, avoiding dependence on imports from Thailand.

Embracing local products

Ever since Cambodia’s conflict with Thailand took a serious turn, Hor Sokunthea, owner of Kunthea Natural Rice, has noticed a shift in consumer behaviour, with more and more Cambodians turning to local products. She explained that this growing support reflects a positive change in attitude compared to before.

“With such strong support, we will continue to expand our product range and services to meet demand. In the past, we used to support the neighbour products, but now we no longer need to because we, as Cambodians, are capable of producing them ourselves,” she added.

Sokunthea further said that Cambodian products have always been known for their delicious taste, high quality, and safety standards, which have earned consumer trust. “The next step for the future is to work together so that our country develops in a way that proudly shows Cambodians can do it.”

Ngy Sovannthita, owner of Svay Angkor Enterprise, also said that she has recently observed a remarkable shift in the mindset of Cambodians, who are now turning almost completely to local products—something she had not expected.

She added that this growing support reflects patriotism and pride in Khmer identity. More importantly, such participation plays a vital role in supporting farmers who work hard to cultivate and process goods, while also contributing to the development of the national economy.

“I want our country to organise more Khmer product exhibitions so that people can learn about our products, taste, purchase, and realise that Cambodians are capable of producing goods comparable to those from other countries,” Sovannthita said.

She called on all Cambodians to continue supporting local products, emphasising that such support brings multiple benefits, including creating local jobs, motivating producers to develop more diverse products, and contributing to the overall development of the nation.

Un Danita, 25, a student, told Khmer Times that she had not realised Cambodia has such a wide variety of local products, including consumer goods, food, and many others.

“I am quite satisfied with both the quality and the price, and I believe consumers can trust and use them with confidence, like me. I would like to appeal to brothers and sisters to support our own products more, because for progress to happen, we must spend locally, only then our economy can grow,” she said.

Another citizen, Nuon Vannarath, emphasised that Cambodians should support local products. He urged manufacturers to continue improving quality while keeping prices reasonable.

He added that even without importing goods from abroad, Cambodians are capable of producing their own products safely and without harmful chemicals.

khmertimeskh