AKP Phnom Penh, July 23, 2025 -- 

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Cambodia to Bulgaria, H.E. Dr. Chea Chanboribo, met on July 23 with Mr. Maxim Behar, Founder and CEO of M3 Communications Group, Inc., at the Cambodian Embassy in Sofia to discuss bolstering bilateral cooperation between Cambodia and Bulgaria.

The discussions spanned critical areas including trade, investment, education, and tourism.

Ambassador Chanboribo articulated his strategic vision to establish a Cambodia-Bulgaria Chamber of Commerce during his tenure, emphasising the vital need to foster direct dialogue between the business communities of both nations. He acknowledged the current modest trade volume but underscored its substantial growth potential, stressing the importance of foundational bilateral agreements to facilitate greater business engagement.

Both Ambassador Chanboribo and Mr. Behar concurred on the synergistic roles their respective countries could play: Bulgaria as Cambodia's gateway to Europe and the EU, and Cambodia as Bulgaria's bridge to Asia and ASEAN.

Mr. Behar highlighted that a robust economic opportunity framework is essential for meaningful bilateral trade and investment. He emphasised Bulgaria's strategic geographical position, rich historical heritage, and its business-friendly environment, noting its status as one of Europe's lowest-tax countries. 

He also stressed the importance of public awareness and information dissemination to deepen mutual understanding between the two peoples.

Pledging his commitment, Mr. Behar offered to assist in the establishment of the bilateral chamber of commerce, viewing it as a crucial step in strengthening the bond between Bulgaria and Cambodia and fostering broader Europe-Asia cooperation. He also revealed plans to visit Cambodia to gain a deeper understanding of its market, engage with officials from the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Economy and Finance, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and lay groundwork for closer economic collaboration.

Ambassador Chanboribo highlighted Cambodia's significant development over the past two decades, marked by increasing trade and investment. The discussion also delved into opportunities for enhanced tourism cooperation. A key challenge identified was the difficulty Cambodian tourists face in obtaining Bulgarian visas due to the absence of a Bulgarian embassy in Phnom Penh, necessitating applications in Hanoi. 

Mr. Behar proposed the appointment of an Honorary Consul in Phnom Penh as a pragmatic solution.

The Ambassador also underscored Cambodia's rich natural and cultural tourism potential, noting the upcoming launch of the Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh this September. This new airport is expected to facilitate direct flights between Cambodia and Europe, providing a substantial boost to tourism.

The dialogue further explored the historical and cultural commonalities between the two nations. Mr. Behar, who serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of National and World Economy (UNWE), proposed exploring academic cooperation with Cambodian universities specialising in economics.

Both parties concluded with an agreement to reconvene soon to discuss the potential organisation of a high-level meeting involving various Bulgarian and Cambodian ministries to advance these promising initiatives.

By K. Rithy Reak