A high-profile Cambodian businessman has called for the private sectors of Cambodia and Turkiye to work together to encourage their respective governments to establish a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), stating that such an agreement would boost bilateral trade and investment.
Kith Meng, president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Cambodia, shared his thoughts as he addressed the Turkiye-Cambodia Business Forum, held in Istanbul, Türkiye, on October 16, 2026.
The forum, held to facilitate networking, explore business opportunities and promote cooperation between investors, was attended by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, as well as senior officials and business leaders from both nations.
Meng highlighted the longstanding friendship and relations between Cambodia and Türkiye, fostered through diplomacy, bilateral trade and direct air connectivity. He also highlighted the efforts made by the two governments to strengthen their ties, particularly Manet’s working visit to Turkiye, describing it as an important historic milestone.
“To strengthen our bilateral relations and further promote trade and investment, I propose that the business communities of both countries help encourage our respective governments to establish a bilateral free trade agreement between Cambodia and Turkiye,” he said.
Meng also called on Turkish businesspeople and investors to invest in Cambodia, saying the CCC stood ready to facilitate and support Turkish businesses seeking to operate in the Kingdom.
He highlighted three potential areas in Cambodia for Turkish investors.
First, he encouraged the establishment of agricultural processing factories in Cambodia to produce goods for export to the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
Second, he called on Turkish investors seeking to diversify their supply chains in Asia to consider investing in Cambodia.
Third, he highlighted Cambodia’s logistics networks and infrastructure, which could help establish new and efficient corridors directly connecting Southeast Asian hubs with Eurasian trade routes.
During the business forum, the CCC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Turkiye’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) to help promote trade and investment between the two countries.
The MoU establishes a framework for institutional cooperation between the Cambodian and Turkish private sectors, covering joint business events, information exchanges and support for business communities in both countries.
Bilateral trade between Cambodia and Turkiye was valued at approximately $400 million in 2025, an increase of 18% over 2024.
The two countries are seeking to increase bilateral trade to $1 billion.
Manet said that while government cooperation was important in establishing the legal framework for bilateral economic relations, the business community remained the primary driving force behind their growth.
He also called on Turkish businesspeople and investors to seize investment opportunities in Cambodia, particularly in manufacturing, agriculture, agro-processing, transportation, renewable energy, digital technology and tourism.