Port of Sihanoukville in Cambodia. (Photo: khmertimeskh.com)
Phnom Penh (VNA) – Two-way trade betweenCambodia and the United States (US) has remained strong even during theCOVID-19 pandemic.
According to statistics from the US Census Bureau, bilateraltrade reached more than 5 billion USD during the period from January to September, an increase of16 percent compared with the same period last year.
Cambodia exported 4.8 billion USD worth of products to theworld’s largest economy, up 21 percent year-on-year, while it imported goodsworth a total 232 million USD during the period, down 40 percent year-on-year.
Public Affairs Officer of the US Embassy in Phnom Penh ArendZwartjes said Cambodia has benefited greatly from duty-free access to the USmarket through the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme. Travelgoods (luggage, handbags and backpacks) are among Cambodia’s fastest growingexports to the US, with exports of them increasing from 50 million USD in 2016to nearly 1 billion USD in 2019 after being added to the GSP, he noted.
The US is Cambodia’s largest single export market, he said,adding that the US Embassy continues to work with Cambodia’s government andprivate sector to promote sales of more US products for more balancedtrade for the benefit of both sides.
Undersecretary of State and spokesperson at the Cambodian Ministryof Commerce (MOC) Penn Sovicheat said that Cambodia’s exports to the US marketso far have not been badly affected by COVID-19.
Cambodia mainly exports textiles, footwear, travel goods,bicycles and agricultural products to the US and imports vehicles, animal feedand machinery.
According to an MOC report, in the first nine months of thisyear, Cambodia exported more than 1.5 million bicycles to foreign markets,generating nearly 400 million USD. Half a million bicycles were sent to the USmarket.
Last year, bilateral trade between the two countries reached5.9 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 37 percent./.
The Cambodian government has approved more than 830 million USD worth of electricity infrastructure projects, which consist of a 150MW hydropower dam, a 265MW coal-fired power station, and three transmission lines.
Cambodia welcomed only 1,247,680 foreign arrivals in the first three quarter of this year, a fall of 74 percent year on year, as the COVID-19 pandemic is lingering on, according to the latest report by the country’s Ministry of Tourism.
Cambodia earned 25.21 million USD from ecotourism services in the first nine months of 2020, according to Neth Pheaktra, Secretary of State and Spokesperson for the country's Ministry of Environment.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
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Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Port of Sihanoukville in Cambodia. (Photo: khmertimeskh.com)
