Bilateral trade between Malaysia and Cambodia surged around 51% to $830 million in the first half of 2026, officials announced Tuesday as the countries forged new commercial partnerships.
The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) hosted a high-level business seminar and business-to-business meetings in Phnom Penh on Tuesday to link Malaysian exporters with Cambodian enterprises, drive investment cooperation and expand regional economic integration.
The event, held during the Export Acceleration Mission to Cambodia 2026, which runs from August 18 to 21, was chaired by Commerce Minister Cham Nimul and Senior Minister in Charge of Special Mission Othsman Hassan.
Key participants included Malaysian Ambassador Shaharuddin Onn, MATRADE Chairman Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Malaysian Business Chamber in Cambodia President Oknha Tan Khee Meng, and Selangor State EXCO for Investment and Trade Mobility Tuan Ng Sze Han.
Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Shaharuddin underlined that the high-level ministerial participation reflected a shared commitment to deepening bilateral economic relations.
“Cambodia and Malaysia share a long-standing relationship built on trust, mutual respect and a shared vision for prosperity. Over the years, our partnership has expanded beyond government-to-government relations to include business-to-business collaboration,” he said, noting that trade flows continue to climb.
Ambassador Shaharuddin noted Malaysia’s strong economic footprint across Cambodia, where Malaysian firms operate in textiles, manufacturing, services, banking, insurance, energy, infrastructure, media, aviation, hospitality and education.
“Today’s gathering is particularly meaningful as it brings together government representatives, business leaders, important distributors, chambers of commerce and industry stakeholders from both Malaysia and Cambodia,” he added.
Nimul told delegates that the seminar focused on building resilient commercial relationships that extend beyond initial introductions to generate long-term mutual benefits.
“It is about managing companies, discovering opportunities with Cambodian companies, finding a partner in Malaysia and both sides identifying practical ways to trade, invest, produce and ultimately grow together,” Nimul noted. She encouraged stakeholders to utilise the platform to decipher market dynamics and translate dialogue into concrete commercial ventures.
Reezal Merican said that Cambodia remained a prime market for Malaysian exporters due to sustained economic expansion and rising consumer demand.
“The strong growth in bilateral trade reflects the deepening economic relationship between Malaysia and Cambodia.
Bilateral trade expanded by 51.1% to $830 million in the first half of 2026, while Malaysia’s exports to Cambodia grew 40.9% to $620 million over the same period,” he said.
The Export Acceleration Mission is engineered to provide Malaysian enterprises with vital market insights and strategic networks. Tuesday’s forum gathered roughly 150 officials, trade representatives and industry leaders, marking a milestone ahead of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Cambodia in 2027.