AKP Phnom Penh, August 7, 2026 --

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has reaffirmed its strong commitment to providing ongoing technical assistance and policy support to strengthen Cambodia’s trade sector and overall economic competitiveness as the Kingdom prepares for graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.

The reaffirmation came during a courtesy meeting held on Aug. 6 at the Ministry of Commerce in Phnom Penh between H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce, and Mrs. Yasmin Siddiqi, ADB Country Director for Cambodia, alongside her delegation.

During the discussion, H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul extended a warm welcome to the ADB delegation and expressed deep appreciation for the progress made through joint initiatives.

She highlighted the positive impact of ongoing ADB technical assistance and policy actions aimed at building institutional capacity and enhancing Cambodia’s trade competitiveness in regional and global markets.

In response, Mrs. Yasmin Siddiqi commended Cambodia’s economic momentum and noted emerging trade opportunities.

She reiterated ADB's readiness to continue delivering tailored technical assistance to aid the Kingdom’s smooth transition out of LDC status, a pivotal economic milestone that requires robust institutional readiness, structural reforms, and export diversification.

Both sides also exchanged views and discussed opportunities to further strengthen cooperation through the development of additional technical assistance projects and new initiatives aligned with the key priorities of Cambodia’s trade sector.

The discussion reflected the shared commitment of the Ministry of Commerce and the Asian Development Bank to promoting sustainable trade development, strengthening institutional capacity, and supporting Cambodia’s continued economic transformation.

By Chea Vannak