France ready to expand economic, trade cooperation with Cambodia

France ready to expand economic, trade cooperation with Cambodia

During his two-day visit, Forissier holds high-level discussions on trade diversification, sustainable infrastructure development, energy transition and improving healthcare infrastructure.

Nicolas Forissier, France’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, said that France is ready to work with Cambodia to promote trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation, so as to further economic and trade cooperation.

Addressing a press conference on Friday at the French Embassy in Phnom Penh following his successful visit to Cambodia, Forissier said, “We must continue to invest in various sectors that align with Cambodia’s development trajectory and its ambition to expand into a developed economy.”

The senior French official, who was on a visit to Cambodia from July 9 to 10, focused on strengthening economic relations between France and Cambodia, as well as increasing French investment in the Kingdom.

During his visit, Forissier held a series of meetings with key Cambodian government figures, including Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul, Minister of Mines and Energy Keo Rottanak, and Minister of Health Chheang Ra.

The high-level discussions touched upon trade diversification, sustainable infrastructure development, energy transition, and improving healthcare infrastructure across the country.

“In my visit here, I want to demonstrate the strengthening of our relationship, which will be interpreted by deepening economic ties,” the French Minister said.

Rottanak, during his meeting with Forissier, discussed the 800-megawatt hydropower project and the project to convert waste in Phnom Penh into electricity.

He said the investment projects are under a feasibility study by French companies.

The two sides also discussed oil and gas cooperation and supported the peaceful settlement of overlapping areas between Cambodia and Thailand under international law, Rottanak said.

Forissier also engaged directly with representatives of the active French business community in Cambodia, which currently spans over 200 enterprises.

“French companies play an important role in the development of many sectors of the economy, such as transportation, energy, finance, health, tourism, hotels, and construction, he added.

France is the number one European country that invests the most in Cambodia.

Trade volume between France and Cambodia reached $568 million in 2025, up 11.7 percent compared to 2024, according to an official report from the Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia.

Cambodia exported $447 million worth of products to France, a year-on-year increase of 12.5 percent.

The Kingdom’s exports to France are heavily concentrated in garments, footwear, and agricultural products.

In addition to investment, in 2025, Cambodia received seven major projects funded by France. These projects will focus on agriculture, energy, clean water, and climate change, with over 1.5 billion Euros (approximately $1.7 billion).

At the press conference, Forissier officially confirmed that French President Emmanuel Macron will participate in the 20th Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh (Nov. 15 to 16, 2026) in person, signalling the profound historical, cultural, and diplomatic ties binding the two nations together.

It is also an important historical stage, as it is a reasonable evolution that can contribute to enhancing the cooperation in the partnership between our two countries, he said.

“This important summit will help Cambodia create various opportunities in the Francophone space and promote a more luxurious Francophone that is beneficial for careers and for those who speak French. This summit is to enhance the relationship between our two countries,” Forissier added.

khmertimeskh