AKP Phnom Penh, April 22, 2026 --

H.E. Ms. Yoeu Asikin, Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, underscored Cambodian rice industry's key role in agrifood transformation, at the Asia-Pacific Food Forum (APFF) held on April 22 in Brunei. 

She made the spotlight while joining a panel discussion, organised alongside the regional conference, focusing on accelerating agrifood investment pathways through the Hand-in-Hand initiative.

During the discussion, H.E. Ms. Yoeu Asikin highlighted Cambodia’s rice industry as a key driver of agrifood transformation, positioning the country among the world’s leading rice producers and exporters, with around 15 million tonnes of paddy production and a surplus of nearly 9 million tonnes offering strong export and investment potential.

Cambodia has successfully moved into premium markets, with fragrant rice varieties such as Phka Rumduol gaining global recognition, while continued investments in milling, storage, and processing are strengthening value chains and export competitiveness.

She emphasised that unlocking further investment across climate-smart production, modern infrastructure, value-added processing, and public private partnerships will be critical to enhancing productivity, sustainability, and resilience in the rice sector.

Through initiatives like Hand-in-Hand, Cambodia continues to promote targeted, data-driven investments to transform its agrifood systems and create opportunities for farmers, businesses, and regional markets.

By Chea Vannak