Background
The Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia is the government agency responsible for negotiating memoranda of understanding and agreements related to trade facilitation and export promotion. On 6 May 2026, Secretary of State Tekreth Kamrang chaired an inter-ministerial meeting at the Ministry to review a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Commerce and the Association of Clusters, Technology Parks and SEZ of Russia; the meeting included representatives from seven relevant institutions and around 50 participants.
Special economic zones (SEZs) are designated areas that host processing and export-oriented industries and serve as focal points for trade, investment, and industrial policy coordination. The draft memorandum aims to create a joint mechanism for cooperation on trade facilitation and the development of processing and export industrial zones, and attendees provided technical inputs intended to broaden the memorandum’s scope on implementation, export expansion, and investment coordination.
Key Developments
On 6 May 2026, an inter-ministerial review was held at the Ministry of Commerce in Phnom Penh to discuss the draft MOU with the Russian association representing clusters, technology parks and special economic zones. The meeting was chaired by Her Excellency Tekreth Kamrang, Secretary of State, and brought together representatives from seven ministries and institutions with a total attendance of about 50 officials. Participants contributed observations and recommendations aimed at making the draft memorandum more comprehensive with respect to implementation arrangements, export promotion measures, and mechanisms to strengthen trade and investment ties within SEZs.
Policy Context
Memoranda of understanding are commonly used by trade ministries and industry associations to set out cooperative frameworks before negotiating detailed agreements or projects. In Cambodia, policy instruments that target SEZs and technology parks focus on facilitating export-oriented manufacturing, coordinating infrastructure and customs procedures, and attracting investment into clustered industrial areas. The draft MOU reviewed by the Ministry is positioned within this broader policy approach to align bilateral technical cooperation with Cambodia’s export and industrial objectives.
Institutional Role
The inter-ministerial composition of the meeting reflects cross-cutting governance requirements for SEZ and technology-park cooperation, including trade facilitation, investment promotion, and technical standards. The Ministry of Commerce led the coordination role in the review process, while other participating institutions provided sectoral inputs to address regulatory, logistical, and investment-related considerations that the memorandum would need to cover if finalized.
