Cambodia first Rice alliance formed

By Rithy Chey  

Thailand Business News

Mon, May 28th, 2012

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Rice alliance formed

A new partnership looking to export Cambodian rice to world markets formed yesterday afternoon at Sunway Hotel, with key advisers to the Cambodian government in attendance, including Mey Kalyan and Sok Siphana.

The Alliance of Rice Producers and Exporters of Cambodia (ARPEC) elected their first executive committee, which includes office holders Phou Puy, Hann Khieng, Oknha Kong Sang, Sok Cheng, Seng Bunsor, Hun Lak, David Van, Phe Hok Chhoun and Sen Reth.The ARPEC group brings together “the major stakeholders in the value chain”, according to deputy secretary David Van.

“Now that the officers have been elected to the executive committee, formal registration will take place at the Ministry of the Interior,” Van said.

About two weeks ago on May 16, some of the new export alliance visited the Thai Rice Exporters Association.Van says the Thai association fully supports the new Cambodian association and will help the new ARPEC develop a relationship with the Vietnam Food Association.“

This is so we can all look at the best possible ways to collaborate between the countries,” Van said.

A few of the ARPEC members had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese provincial authorities to build rice mills round Cambodia with potential capacity of 400,000 tonnes.

“Now we are working on binding terms and conditions in time for the new Chinese leadership to come for the ASEAN summit later this year,” Van said. “The Chinese, through their own Export-Import Bank, have a special concession agreement made between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to help Cambodia develop the agriculture sector,” Van said.

Government adviser Mey Kalyan, longtime agricultural economist for the United Nations, was present to lend his assistance to the proceedings.“I think if Cambodia wants to promote the rice sector, we need this kind of exporter association. This is very important as a gateway of Cambodian rice,” he said.“Rice export is not only about production.