Synopsis: Malaysian business chamber showcases seven decades of bilateral partnership and expanding commercial investments as bilateral trade targets $2 billion by 2027.
The Malaysian Business Chamber in Cambodia (MBCC) celebrated Malaysia’s 69th National Day, Hari Merdeka, in Phnom Penh on Monday, highlighting longstanding friendship and rapid growth in bilateral trade, investment and business ties.
Held at NagaWorld, the celebration brought together members of the Malaysian community, Cambodian friends, business partners and members of the diplomatic community, with Malaysian Ambassador Shaharuddin Onn attending as guest of honour.
The evening featured Malaysian-Chinese cuisine, a magic show and musical performances, with guests joining in a spirited rendition of the patriotic song Tanggal 31 Ogos, creating an atmosphere of national pride.
At the opening of the event, MBCC President Oknha Tan Khee Meng said the occasion held special meaning because August 31 marks both independence in 1957 and the establishment of diplomatic relations.
“This means our friendship is exactly as old as independent Malaysia itself,” Tan said, describing the event as a “dual happiness”.
He thanked the embassy and Ambassador Shaharuddin for supporting government and business links, while praising the community for contributing to economic development.
Oknha Tan said Malaysian businesses had played an important role over three to four decades through investments in banking, infrastructure, energy, telecommunications and manufacturing, while creating jobs, training talent and supporting communities through corporate social responsibility programmes.
“Your hard work and commitment have helped raise Malaysia’s national flag high and proud,” he said
He said Malaysia’s multicultural identity and development were built through collective efforts across ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.
“What Malaysia is today is not the work of one race or one group. It’s a joint effort of all Malaysians working hard, generation by generation,” Oknha Tan said.
Turning to economic relations, he noted bilateral trade increased from $865 million in 2024 to $1.17 billion in 2025, while trade during the first seven months of 2026 reached $1.07 billion, a 67% increase year-on-year.
He said the two countries were on track to surpass $2 billion by 2027. Tan noted a sharp increase in Cambodian patients seeking medical services in Malaysia, rising from about 3,600 in 2024 to more than 12,000 in 2025.
He said businesses were moving beyond conventional trade by entering joint ventures, expanding manufacturing and integrating supply chains.
“We are no longer just buying and selling,” he said.
“Next year, we will reach a significant milestone in our relations as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries,” he said.
The ambassador described relations as “strong, stable, friendly and mature” based on mutual respect, characterising the nations as “partners in peace, partners in progress and also partners in prosperity”.
He pointed to high-level exchanges, including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Cambodia in 2023 and Prime Minister Hun Manet’s visit to Malaysia in February 2024.
Ambassador Shaharuddin highlighted visits by senior officials including Dewan Rakyat Speaker, the Chief Justice, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and military leaders.
“These high-level visits reflect the importance that Malaysia places on its relations with the Kingdom of Cambodia,” he said.
The ambassador expressed commitment to working with the government of Cambodia, adding that both nations were “on the right trajectory”.
He cited the Third Joint Commission on Bilateral Consultation in Kuala Lumpur as further evidence of strong bilateral footing.
Despite global and regional economic uncertainties, Ambassador Shaharuddin said trade surpassed $1 billion in 2025 and expressed confidence that the $2 billion target was within reach.
“I believe that Malaysians and Malaysian businesses here, including MBCC, will continue to play a major role in strengthening bilateral trade and investment,” he said.
He described MBCC as an “invaluable partner” to the embassy, praising its role in bringing companies together during an Export Acceleration Mission led by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation.
Ambassador Shaharuddin reaffirmed support for the Malaysian community and deeper bilateral ties.
The celebration concluded with renewed expressions of friendship between the Malaysian and Cambodian communities, underscoring the increasingly broad economic, diplomatic and people-to-people links between the two Southeast Asian nations as they approach the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027.