The Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) would like to thank BTV for its strong interest in the Cambodian rice sector, and especially in the context of January 2021, when rice exports saw a decline, BTV ommediately interviewed yesterday with Mr. Song Saran, President of the Cambodia Rice Federation to present to the public the reasons as well as the challenges in detail.

 In the afternoon of February 10, 2021, at the meeting hall of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce (CCC), a private sector meeting of the Rice working group of the Government-Private Sector Forum was chaired by H.E. Sok Puthivuth, Co-Chair of the Working Group, Oknha Hun Lak, Chairman of the Board of the CRF and Vice Chairman of the Rice Working Group, Oknha Kim Savuth, Executive Advisor to CRF and Vice Chairman of Rice working group,

On the afternoon of February 17, 2021, Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) held a meeting of the Marketing and Export Promotion Executive Committee (Exco) lead by Ms. Kim Sreyroth, Vice President of CRF and head of the Exco to discuss about the marketing challenges, especially to find solutions and mechanism to boost exports to China, with the participation of CRF’s members from all related sectors such as exporters, rice millers, transport and logistic companies and inspection companies, in total around 20 participants.

 [Content available in Khmer language] 

រយៈពេល២ឆ្នាំមកហើយ ដែលសហគមន៍អឺរ៉ុប បានដាក់ពន្ធលើការនាំចេញអង្កររបស់កម្ពុជា។ ជុំវិញការយកពន្ធក្រោមហេតុផលថា ដើម្បីជួយដល់កសិកររបស់ខ្លួននេះ ត្រូវបានសហព័ន្ធស្រូវអង្ករកម្ពុជា នៅតែលើកឡើងថា ជារឿងមួយអយុត្ដិធម៌ និងមិនបានជួយអ្វីទាល់តែសោះ ដល់កសិករអឺរ៉ុបខ្លួនឯង។ លោកឧកញ៉ា សុង សារ៉ន ប្រធានសហព័ន្ធស្រូវអង្ករកម្ពុជា បានលើកឡើងថា ការដាក់ពន្ធលើអង្កររបស់កម្ពុជា ធ្វើឲ្យកម្ពុជាបាត់បង់ នូវការនាំចេញអង្ករស ប្រមាណ៦-៧ម៉ឺនតោន ហើយប្រទេសដែលបានជំនួសនោះ គឺប្រទេសឥណ្ឌា និងប្រទេសវៀតណាម។

 In the first two months of early 2021, Cambodia achieved its rice exports in the amount of 64.53 million US dollars with the volume 76 222 tons. The exports in these two months is dropped by 44.16% comparing to the same period of 2020. This decrease was mainly due to the lack of containers and the cost of shipping continued to be increased, up to almost 500% of the shipping cost in 2019.

Cambodia's rice exports in the first quarter of 2021 reached 153,688 tonnes, generating in the valued of 109.73 million US dollars.

 On Thursday, April 1, 2021, Oknha Song Saran, President of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), delivered a keynote speech addressing at the Ministry of Commerce's Annual General Meeting 2020 through the video conference chaired by H.E Pan Sorasak, Minister of Commerce of Cambodia.

 In the afternoon of Tuesday, April 13, 2020, at the Ministry of Health, Oknha Song Saran, President of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), has joined with other 13 private companies and donators, also represented the donations from CRF, including four laptops and five printers, were donated to the Adhoc Committee for COVID-19 vaccination, chaired by Lok Chumteav Or Vandine.

 On the morning of April 24, 2021, at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, there is a symbolic handover ceremony for 100 tons of rice, highly presented by H.E. Vong Sandab, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, High Representative of HE Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth, Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Economy and Finance, and the chair of the Executive Committee to Manage and Lead the Implementation of the Lockdown, with representatives of the Cambodia Rice Federation, including Oknha Hun Lak, Chairman of the Board of the Cambodia Rice Federation, and Oknha Song Saran, President of the Cambodia Rice Federation, and the representative from Phnom Penh Municipality, H.E Keut Chhe, Deputy Governor of Phnom Penh, and the participation of Excellencies, Lok Chumteavs, Ladies and Gentlemen, civil servants of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

 On May 1, 2021, at Kampong Cham Provincial Hall, Oknha Song Saran, President of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), has brought the donation of 5 tons of rice from the participation of CRF’s members to the Kampong Cham Provincial Administration, hightly presented by H.E. Un Chanda, Governor of Kampong Cham Province, and H.E. Khlot Phorn, Chairman of Kampong Cham Provincial Board of Directors.

On May 04, 2021, at Kampong Thom Provincial Hall, representatives of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), including staff from Kampong Thom 1668 Mills and Amru Rice Company at Kampong Thom Province, have presented the donated 5 tons of rice equal to 5,000. Kilograms, that is the donated from participation of CRF’s members to the Kampong Thom Provincial Administration to distribute to the poor affected by COVID-19.

On May 04, 2021, at Thmor Korl District Hall, Oknha Phou Veasna, Vice president of Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) have brought and presented the donated 5 tons of rice equal to 5,000. Kilograms, that is the donated from participation of CRF’s members, to the Thmor Korl District administration, Battambong Province, to distribute to the poor affected by COVID-19.

On 19 May 2021, Ms. Kim Sreyroth, vice president of Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), and head of Access to Market and Trade Promotion Executive Committee of CRF, and Mr. Lun Yeng, Secretary General of CRF, have welcomed the discussion meeting via online with Khmer Enterprise (KE), represented by Mr. Kong Sophyvathanak, Market and Investment Manager of KE, in which the discussion is regarding how to boost market of Cambodian rice export focusing on branding and marketing at the international stage to raise awareness of Cambodian rice brand with quality.

On 20^th May 2021, Oknha Song Saran, president of Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), has given the opening remark in the online event of Commercialization of Food Fortification Roundtable, with highly presence of H.E Sok Silo, Secretary General of Council for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD), MS. RANA KARADSHEH, Regional Industry Director Asia Pacific International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Mr. ASAD YAQUB, Resident Representative of IFC Cambodia, and participated by more than 60 guests, in which include 20 guests from CRF’s member who are rice exporters, rice millers, and the rest are from local and international experts.

In the 5 month of 2021, Cambodia has achieved its rice export to 47 countries destination in the volume of 233,031 Metric Tons (MT), and generating in value of USD 166.81 Million. More than 52% of overall export or equal to more than 120,000 MT of milled-rice has exported to China market, including Hong Kong, Macau, in which bring about almost USD 77.52 Million as the value.

 On June 11, 2021, Oknha Song Saran, President of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), and Mr. Lun Yeng, Secretary General of the CRF, have participated in the online conference on "Implementation of the Economic Diplomacy Strategy 2021-2023” organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cambodia.  The development of economic diplomacy strategies is important in improving the effectiveness of diplomatic work. The objectives of this strategy include: promoting international trade, attracting foreign direct investment, and promoting Cambodia's tourism and culture.

On Friday, June 25, 2021, Oknha Song Saran has delivered a remark in the Signing Ceremony to support the development of Sustainable Rice Platform National Chapter in Cambodia, that the ceremony chaired by H.E. Dr. Ngin Chhay, Director General of GDA. 

This signing ceremony is the agreement through the discussion and preparation from the related stakeholders such as GDA, CRF secretariat, Swiss Contact, WCS, CIRAD, and other development organizations/institutions.

Last week, on June 18, 2021, CRF’s president, Oknha Song Saran, has given an interview in the documentary video of a travel-cultural program called “INVITATION AU VOYAGE”, broadcasted by Arte, a well-known french-german channel. The documentary interview took place at the rice field near Kamping Pouy Basin of Battambong Province to feature specifically on rice sector related to Cambodian history.

In the first semester 2021, Cambodia exported the milled-rice to 49 destinations with  the volume 280,450 Metric Ton (MT), and values $ 202.67.

It dropped  29.47% comparing to the same period in 2020, but this volumes of 2021 is almost same as volumes exported in the  first six months of year 2017, 2018 and 2019. (Click here to read and download report in PDF)

 On July 13, 2021, Cambodia Rice Federation organized an Extra-Ordinary Meeting “Adaptation of Economy-Cambodia’s Rice Export in the Context of COVID-19” via Zoom video, highly participated by Oknha Hun Lak, CRF’s Chariman, Oknha Song Saran, CRF’s President, H.E Oknha Dr Executive Advisor of CRF, and CRF’s member who are rice exporters, rice millers, in total around 60 participants.