South Korean Investors Eye Cambodia’s Agro‑Processing Sector, Especially Cashew Industry

PHNOM PENH, May 26, 2026 (KPT) — South Korean investors are showing growing interest in Cambodia’s agro‑processing sector, particularly the cashew industry, as both countries seek to deepen trade and investment cooperation, officials said Tuesday.

Senate spokesman Chea Thearith said Senate President and Acting Head of State Samdech Techo Hun Sen met a South Korean business delegation led by Park Joo Bong, chairman of the Incheon Chamber of Commerce, to discuss investment opportunities.

Samdech Techo welcomed the delegation and expressed hope the visit would help create new partnerships in Cambodia. Park Joo Bong praised Cambodia’s favourable investment environment, describing the country as safe and increasingly attractive to South Korean investors. He said companies were actively exploring opportunities in agriculture and agro‑processing, with particular interest in cashew nuts.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen highlighted Cambodia’s strong potential in agricultural production, stressing that the priority was not only exporting raw commodities but also expanding domestic processing capacity to increase added value and improve competitiveness. He urged South Korean investors to explore opportunities in emerging sectors, including agro‑industry and water resource management.

Cambodia has emerged as one of the world’s major cashew producers, though most output is still exported raw. Kampong Thom province alone produces nearly 200,000 tonnes annually from about 160,000 hectares of plantations. Officials said foreign investment in processing could help Cambodia move further up the value chain and expand exports to South Korea and global markets.

Trade between the two countries reached $923 million in 2025, up 1.41 percent from the previous year, underscoring steady momentum in economic ties. Both sides said they expected cooperation to continue expanding, with agriculture and agro‑processing identified as priority areas for future investment.