AKP Phnom Penh, May 28, 2026—
Cambodia’s Ambassador to Bulgaria visited a major European health food company on Thursday as part of an accelerating economic diplomacy campaign aimed at expanding the Southeast Asian nation's market presence in the European Union (EU).
Ambassador H.E. Dr. Chea Chanboribo visited the headquarters of Oberon Healthy Foods to inspect its production lines, packaging technologies, and quality control systems. The visit follows a preliminary working meeting on May 22 with Mr. Sasho Shunev, the general manager of the Bulgarian firm.
The move comes amid the embassy's broader push over the past year to aggressively strengthen political, economic, and cultural ties across the Balkan and Baltic regions.
During the visit, H.E. Ambassador and Mr. Shunev held in-depth discussions on exporting premium Cambodian agricultural and processed goods to the European market, where consumer demand for organic, sustainable, and health-focused products is steadily rising.
Oberon Healthy Foods, a major packaging and distribution hub servicing the EU, already packages and distributes premium Cambodian rice across Europe, highlighting growing European confidence in the quality of Cambodia's agricultural yields.
To further promote Cambodian commodities, the Ambassador presented Shunev with samples of the country's flagship agricultural products, including jasmine rice, palm sugar, pepper, and cashew nuts. Company officials expressed strong interest, citing the unique flavour profiles and high sustainability standards of the goods.
The embassy stated that the diplomatic outreach is part of a strategic "gateway diplomacy" initiative designed to link Cambodian private enterprises directly with Central, Southeastern, and Balkan markets using Bulgaria—a strategic EU member state—as a primary logistical and commercial springboard.
Diplomatic observers note that such public-private partnerships are expected to play a critical role in modernising Cambodia's agricultural processing capabilities, adding value to its exports, and enhancing the global competitiveness of Cambodian brands within the rigorous regulatory framework of the European single market.

By K. Rithy Reak