Cambodia is actively encouraging citizens to increasingly and safely adopt digital trade practices through the organization of the “Cambodia Digital Trade Forum and Online Expo”.
The Ministry of Commerce will hold the forum & Online Expo on September 12–13, at the Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Center.
At a June 17 press conference about the upcoming event, ministry secretary of state Chea Ratha explained that the forum aims to boost digital trade activities and product promotion in Cambodia in a more vibrant and secure manner. The event follows the successful first edition, held in late 2024.
She emphasised that the forum is crucial for enhancing the ability to promote and boost sales, as well as for strengthening cooperation between local companies and foreign businesses. It also aims to expand Cambodia’s export markets to more international destinations.
Ratha added that promoting and strengthening digital buying and selling also aligns with the recommendations of Prime Minister Hun Manet, who called for “strengthening existing markets and expanding into new ones”.
The commerce ministry has also launched the website https://cambodiatrade.com/, which features a variety of locally made products available for purchase.
Regarding digital business operations in Cambodia, significant development has been observed over the past 4–5 years.
Ratha noted that the arrival of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) drove Cambodia to create the Law on Electronic Commerce in 2019, and in 2020, Cambodia launched its first E-Commerce Strategy, focusing on small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Currently, the Kingdom is drafting the 2025–2030 Cambodia Digital Trade Strategy.
She explained that through the Cambodia Digital Trade Forum and Online Expo, the ministry aims to achieve several goals, including: Promoting digital trade activities, fostering partnerships between business owners, raising awareness about the benefits of digital trade and addressing concerns regarding the safety and security of digital transactions.
According to her, the forum will also feature presentations from experts in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital commerce, as well as youth debate sessions involving young participants.
According to the ministry, in 2024, digital trade (both domestic and cross-border) in Cambodia amounted to around $1.51 billion, up from $1.28 billion in 2023. This figure is projected to rise to $1.78 billion in 2025. However, this remains relatively low compared to the total digital trade value in the ASEAN region, which reached about $116 billion in 2024 and is expected to increase to $137 billion in 2025.
