UK Trade Envoy Sees Significant Opportunities to Expand Ties with Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, June 10, 2026 (KPT) — The United Kingdom’s Trade Envoy to Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos, Matt Western MP, has highlighted major opportunities to deepen trade, investment and economic cooperation with Cambodia as the Kingdom advances toward graduation from Least Developed Country status.

According to the British Embassy, Western is visiting Cambodia this week to meet senior officials, business leaders and development partners, aiming to strengthen bilateral economic ties and reaffirm London’s support for Cambodia’s sustainable growth.

“It is a pleasure to return to Cambodia at such an important moment in the country’s development,” Western said ahead of the visit. “As Cambodia prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country status, there is a real opportunity to deepen trade and investment links, strengthen skills and education partnerships, and support the growth of Cambodian businesses.”

He noted the UK is keen to expand cooperation in green infrastructure, financial services, capital markets and education — sectors he said could drive sustainable growth, create jobs and attract investment.

Western is scheduled to meet officials from the Ministry of Commerce and the Council for the Development of Cambodia to discuss trade priorities, regulatory reforms and ways to increase use of the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which grants duty‑free access to more than 99 percent of Cambodian exports.

Talks will also cover energy development with Electricité du Cambodge and capital market cooperation through the UK–Cambodia working group. Meetings with British firms including Reigate Grammar School Phnom Penh and Unilever will highlight their contributions to job creation and skills development.

Bilateral trade between Cambodia and the UK reached US$1.06 billion in 2025, up 5.7 percent from the previous year, with Cambodian exports accounting for about US$1 billion of the total.