Cambodian PM urges SMEs to raise standards, pledges continued support

PHNOM PENH, June 27, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet on Saturday called on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to boost the quality and competitiveness of locally made products, stressing that stronger domestic production is vital to reducing reliance on imports and building a more resilient economy.

Addressing a gathering of Cambodia’s small, medium and handicraft enterprise community, Hun Manet urged businesses to become more self-reliant by raising product standards while keeping prices affordable so that Cambodian goods can compete more effectively in the domestic market.

He said the government had consistently supported SMEs through policies designed to encourage growth and expansion, and encouraged enterprises to scale up operations, progressing from micro-businesses to small, medium-sized and eventually large companies.

Samdech Thipadei instructed ministries and state institutions to review laws and regulations governing domestic manufacturing to ensure they reflect current economic conditions and developments in artificial intelligence.

The review, he said, should simplify the regulatory framework, eliminate overlapping responsibilities among agencies and make it easier for businesses to operate.

He also called for simpler and more coordinated inspection procedures for imported goods, saying compliance requirements should not place unnecessary burdens on enterprises.

Referring to recent developments along Cambodia’s border, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said the situation underscored the importance of strengthening economic self-reliance.

He urged businesses to work together to produce high-quality goods at competitive prices to support national resilience, while appealing to retailers not to sell products that could endanger consumers’ health.

Samdech Thipadei said the government would continue supporting the private sector to strengthen domestic production capacity and encourage Cambodian businesses to expand sustainably while improving product quality for both domestic and export markets.

As a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), he added, Cambodia could not prohibit imports, but long-term competitiveness would depend on producing goods that can succeed on quality and price in both local and international markets.