AKP Phnom Penh, June 29, 2026 --

Cambodia and Japan have stepped up efforts to expand bilateral trade through a digital trade promotion and business matchmaking initiative in Tokyo designed to connect Cambodian exporters directly with Japanese buyers.

The "Cambodia-Japan Digital Trade Promotion Business Matchmaking Programme" took place last Friday at the ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) in Tokyo, according to an official statement from Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce (MoC).

The event was presided over by H.E. Chea Ratha, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Commerce, and attended by H.E. Kunihiko Hirabayashi, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-Japan Centre, and H.E. Takahashi Fumiaki, President of the Japan-Cambodia Association (JCA).

The programme was organised under the 2026 Action Plan of the “Digital Capacity Building and Promoting Cambodian Products to the International Market through CambodiaTrade.com” project. The initiative is supported by the CBRD Fund and implemented in collaboration with the ASEAN-Japan Centre and the Japan-Cambodia Association.

The programme focused on strengthening business networks between Cambodian manufacturers and exporters and Japanese buyers, while promoting e-commerce for products under the #MadeInCambodia and #MadeByHer campaigns.

During the event, Japanese buyers received guidance on how to use the CambodiaTrade.com portal, including account registration and placing direct orders through the digital platform.

The business matching sessions also provided opportunities for Cambodian enterprises and traders to meet Japanese business partners directly, explore potential partnerships, expand commercial networks and increase the presence of Cambodian products in Japanese and international markets.

As part of the mission, H.E. Chea Ratha led a delegation from the Ministry of Commerce and representatives of Cambodia’s private sector on visits to major retail outlets and distribution channels in Japan.

The delegation observed product display arrangements, marketing strategies and consumer demand trends, while also exchanging views with Japanese private-sector partners on strengthening trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.

Cambodia-Japan bilateral trade exceeded US$1.2 billion in the first five months of 2026, marking a 17.2 percent increase compared with the same period last year, according to the General Department of Customs and Excise.

Cambodia’s exports to Japan reached US$766 million between January and May, up 20.6 percent year-on-year, while imports from Japan totalled US$434 million, an increase of 11.8 percent.

By Sum Kosal