U.S. Shows Agricultural Products in Cambodia

Phnom Penh, October 22, 2010 AKP --
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in cooperation with the U.S. Meat Export Federation, the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, and E& J Gallo Winery begins to exhibit their products and services in Phnom Penh on Thursday, according to Chinese News Agency Xinhua.

The U.S. Pavilion of the Camfood 2010 exhibition is held at newly developed Diamond Island Exhibition Center in Phnom Penh and will last for three days to Oct. 23, according to the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia.

It marks the first time that the USDA is organizing a USA Pavilion at a trade show in Cambodia.

Currently, Cambodia is a relatively small market for U.S. agricultural exports, but one with great potential.

Agricultural trade between Cambodia and the United States has grown gradually over the last five years.

According to the statement from U.S. Embassy, “U.S. agricultural exports to Cambodia have grown from 5.3 million U.S. dollars in 2005 to 6.6 million U.S. dollars in 2009.”

“These same exports in first seven month of 2010 reached a new record of nearly 8.1 million U.S. dollars, an increase of over 100 percent over the same period of 2009,” it said.

Cambodia holds much promise as a market for U.S. consumer-oriented food products, exports of which to Cambodia were 3.0 million U.S. dollars in the first seven months of 2010.

Given the expanding retail outlets and rapid growth in the number of hotels, restaurants and catering outlets, as well as the number of international tourist arrivals, Cambodia’s demand for imported foods, particularly protein source, looks sure to increase.--AKP