The goal of boosting trade between its eastern and western neighbors to a total value of $35 billion will not be an obstacle for Cambodia because Cambodia’s production base has sufficient resources and strength to meet this goal.
According to the determination and desire of the governments of Cambodia and Vietnam, its eastern neighbor, in boosting trade to $20 billion and the target of $15 billion between Cambodia and Thailand, there is really no obstacle because the trade base and resources that Cambodia has Can be fulfilled with the two neighboring countries, it already has a growth momentum in line with that trend.
For Cambodia’s trade with Vietnam, both sides have committed to promoting economic partnerships in key sectors to achieve a bilateral trade volume of 20 billion dollars over the next five years. This commitment has been repeatedly emphasized by Cambodian and Vietnamese leaders in successive meetings, and even the recent 2025 Business Dialogue organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh also mentioned this plan.
So far, analysts have said that the two countries have many favorable conditions to strengthen their partnership in specific economic sectors. Trade relations between Cambodia and Vietnam continue to grow despite global challenges. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume between the two countries reached $10.1 billion, an increase of 17.5 percent compared to 2023. In the first four months of 2025, trade between Cambodia and Vietnam reached $3.22 billion, an increase of 7 percent, of which Cambodia exported $1.78 billion to Vietnam and imported $1.43 billion, with Cambodia having a trade surplus of more than $354 million.
Separately, for trade relations between Cambodia and Thailand, the two sides are committed to achieving $15 billion. Cambodia and Thailand reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen trade relations with an ambitious target of $15 billion by 2027, by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia recently.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the two foreign ministers exchanged views and had in-depth discussions on potential areas of cooperation. Including a bilateral trade target of $15 billion by 2027, promoting tourism, agriculture, cultural cooperation, establishing Special Economic Zones (SEZs) along the border, and jointly addressing and cooperating on non-traditional security issues.
The agreement to enhance trade relations reflects the growing economic interdependence between the two neighboring countries. Cross-border trade, especially through border special economic zones, is expected to play a key role in achieving trade goals.
The two ministers discussed strategies to promote trade facilitation and transport infrastructure. A highlight is the upcoming inauguration of the Cambodia-Thai Friendship Bridge, officially known as the Stung Bot-Ban Nong Ien Bridge, a major infrastructure project expected to boost the flow of goods and people across the border.
In 2024, trade between Cambodia and Thailand totaled $4.28 billion, an increase of 14.19 percent. During the first four months of this year, trade between the two countries reached $1.49 billion, up 6.4 percent compared to the same period last year, according to a recent report from the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia. From January to April, Cambodia’s exports to Thailand totaled nearly $328 million, down 2.9 percent. In contrast, Cambodia’s imports from Thailand increased by 9.4 percent, to $1.16 billion.
This is the trend of Cambodia’s economic cooperation with its two neighboring countries to the east and west, while with Laos, it is still small. Cambodia’s exports to neighboring countries in the east and west are generally agricultural products that are the main raw materials for processing, and the imports are finished products, electronics, consumer products, fuel, etc.
Overall, the trend of economic cooperation relations with neighboring countries is still good, and the situation is likely to improve further. Therefore, we hope that relevant parties will continue to pay attention so that we can achieve trade growth according to the wishes of each party.
