On December 17, 2024, H.E. Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation, met with a delegation from the Cassava Federation of Cambodia, led by its President, Oknha Chray Son, to discuss strategies for advancing Cambodia’s cassava sub-sector. The meeting addressed challenges in the industry and explored opportunities to maximize cassava’s economic potential through local processing and value-added production.

Oknha Chray Son emphasized the sub-sector’s vast potential, noting that 95% of cassava is currently exported raw, with 5% processed domestically, contributing approximately $728 million to the economy. Cambodia ranks as Asia’s fourth-largest and the world’s tenth-largest cassava exporter, with 60,000 to 80,000 hectares under cultivation. Cassava can be transformed into a wide range of products, including starch, bread, biscuits, chips, beverages, and industrial goods like paper.

Minister Hem Vanndy underscored the importance of transitioning from raw exports to domestic processing to create higher-value products, improve farmers’ livelihoods, and diversify Cambodia’s industrial output. He highlighted the Federation's pivotal role in mobilizing cassava growers, promoting starch-rich varieties, and ensuring fair contract farming practices.

The Minister expressed strong support for clean cassava production and the establishment of a cassava value chain cluster. He tasked the Institute of Standards of Cambodia (ISC) with updating cassava-related Cambodia Standards to align with market needs. He also encouraged the Federation to collaborate with Khmer Enterprise for business planning, market access, and participation in international expos. Partnerships with financial institutions such as SME Bank and ARDB Bank were recommended to secure funding for cassava enterprises.

Additionally, Minister Vanndy suggested research collaborations with the National Institute of Science, Technology, and Innovation (NISTI) to explore advanced reprocessing technologies. He urged the Federation to mobilize Cambodia’s 90,000 cassava-growing families to join the newly launched digital platform for onboarding the informal economy, aiming to enhance their resilience and promote economic inclusivity.