Enhancing Cambodia’s Local Market for Sustainable Growth
- Phearum Sorn
- May 12, 2025
Imagine a nation where every product, from the food on your plate to the crafts in your home, tells a story of local ingenuity and quality. This isn’t just a dream; it’s a powerful driver of economic development, consumer satisfaction, and national identity.
When countries effectively innovate their own high-quality local products, they’re not just selling goods, they’re strengthening their global reputation and becoming more competitive in both local and international markets. Furthermore, a thriving market for local products encourages industries to be more creative and innovative, constantly pushing the boundaries of product quality and business approaches.
Cambodia’s local business market is a vibrant and evolving landscape, rich with potential and opportunities. As the country continues to develop economically, local businesses can play a crucial role in driving growth, creating jobs, and fostering innovation.
Located in the Southeast Asia region, Cambodia is known for not only its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, but also a significant and diverse freshwater fishery sector that plays a crucial role in its economy, food security, and livelihoods. However, the issue arises when local businesses mostly utilize traditional methods passed down through generations to manufacture their fishery products. A significant portion of these traditional methods are carried out by women, who historically dominate the post-harvest processing and marketing of fishery products.
Despite their crucial role in the value chain, women often face additional barriers, including limited access to modern technology, financial resources, and formal training, which further impacts the quality and market competitiveness of these essential local products.
As the country advances technologically, it’s not just about updating methods, but about ensuring equitable access to these advancements for all, especially for the women who are the backbone of this industry.
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has developed a project regarding this issue called FTRIP which not only improves the quality and price of fishery products in Cambodia but also on creating inclusive opportunities for all stakeholders, particularly women. Partnering with institutions and universities, FTRIP received many innovative research proposals, many of which also address the empowerment of women in the fishery sector.
"To address the issue of women's limited knowledge in the fisheries sector, the Fisheries Administration, in collaboration with UNIDO, has provided support and training on processing techniques and technologies to women in fisheries processing. This ensures women have opportunities to strengthen their capacities."
The iMPACT STORY team had the privilege of creating a video documentary that vividly captured the essence of the FTRIP project, highlighting its transformative impact on local businesses and, crucially, on the lives of women in the fishery field. The video showcased how, through tailored training programs and access to modern processing techniques, women who once relied solely on traditional methods are now stepping up to embrace innovation.
These training initiatives empower them with new skills in areas like hygienic processing, quality control, and efficient supply chain management. This support not only boosts their production practices and technology adoption, leading to increased efficiency and reduced waste, but also enhances their entrepreneurial capabilities and leadership roles.
We believe that by creating a proper, systematic local business ecosystem with full support, particularly for women-led enterprises, we are not only contributing to sustainable economic growth but also fostering greater equity. High-quality, standardized local products mean stronger communities and a vibrant economy where citizens, including empowered women, don’t have to migrate for work. Investing in these local industries stimulates innovation, boosts economies, supports small businesses and entrepreneurs, and most importantly, strengthens community ties and fosters a profound sense of national pride, built on inclusive growth.
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