Cham Nimul, Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce, presided over the networking event for the Cambodia-ASEAN Business Summit 2026 (CABS 2026) on Tuesday evening at Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, bringing together senior government officials, business leaders and development partners from across the region.
In her opening remarks, Minister Cham Nimul expressed appreciation to the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce for its continued efforts to strengthen private sector connectivity and deepen regional investment cooperation. She noted that the summit’s theme of “Transforming ASEAN: Innovation, Integration, and Industrial Evolution,” aligns closely with the aspirations of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, which seeks to position the region as a dynamic, innovative and highly integrated economic bloc.
Highlighting ASEAN’s considerable untapped investment potential, the minister encouraged businesses to intensify cross-border partnerships and expand regional value chains. She emphasised that stronger networking and investment linkages are essential to accelerating economic integration and ensuring shared prosperity.
Cham Nimul also pointed to ongoing efforts to enhance ASEAN’s institutional and policy frameworks, including amendments to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA), aimed at improving trade facilitation and investor confidence.
She also described the networking reception as a vital platform for dialogue and collaboration, urging participants to translate discussions into concrete investments and joint ventures that will help shape ASEAN’s next phase of industrial evolution.