Deputy PM Urges Support for Local Industry as “Khmer Product Exhibition 2025” Opens

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Sept. 11, 2025) — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth on Thursday called on Cambodian enterprises to seize new market opportunities and expand production, as the “Khmer Product Exhibition 2025” officially opened in Phnom Penh.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Pornmoniroth said demand for locally made products is rising, driven by improved quality and growing consumer confidence. He emphasized that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) stand to gain three key benefits from the exhibition: increased visibility and public recognition, expanded production capacity, and access to new markets.

“Cambodian people at all levels are united in the spirit of one Cambodian family,” Pornmoniroth said. “They fully trust the Royal Government in resolving national challenges, including border disputes, and continue to support sustainable and inclusive economic growth through local production.”

The three-day exhibition, held from Sept. 11–13 at the Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Center, is organized by the Samdech Techo Foundation for SME Development and the Federation of Associations for Small and Medium Enterprises of Cambodia (FASMEC). It features around 300 enterprises and showcases more than 100 types of products from across the country under the theme “Strengthening and Expanding Local Production Capacity.”

Pornmoniroth also encouraged businesses to use the platform to create more jobs, particularly for returning Cambodian nationals, and to contribute to national development.

The event comes amid heightened tensions along the Cambodia–Thailand border, with organizers noting a surge in public support for locally made goods as a symbol of national resilience.