ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Cambodia are seeking to turn political dialogue into tangible economic outcomes by expanding agricultural exports, strengthening business ties and exploring transport and technology partnerships, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos said ahead of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet’s visit to Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos Kanat Tumysh. Photo credit: Embassy “The principal expected outcome of the visit is agreement on practical next steps in priority areas and the creation of favourable conditions for new trade and investment projects,” Tumysh said in written responses to questions from The Astana Times.
Bilateral trade reached $40.7 million in 2025, up from $33.8 million in 2024. In the first half of this year, it amounted to $20.6 million, up 1.4% year on year. Trade remains heavily weighted towards Cambodian exports, particularly textiles, knitwear, footwear and other consumer goods.
“The priority now is to realise more fully the potential of our partnership,” Tumysh said, identifying agriculture, food processing, tourism, construction, transport and logistics as promising areas. At a meeting in Shanghai on July 17, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Hun Manet discussed cooperation in these sectors, as well as the textile industry and technology.
Kazakhstan expressed readiness to increase supplies of grain, fertilizers and other agricultural products and share its expertise in advanced technologies. Investment ties remain modest. No gross inflows of direct investment from Cambodia into Kazakhstan have been recorded, while gross outflows of direct investment from Kazakhstan to Cambodia amounted to $30,000 in January-June.
As of Sept. 1, four legal entities with Cambodian capital participation were registered and operating in Kazakhstan. “The presence of businesses with Cambodian capital does not automatically imply substantial direct investment inflows,” Tumysh said, adding that these companies could nevertheless provide a basis for stronger commercial ties.
Agriculture offers opportunities for two-way trade Kazakhstan sees opportunities to supply Cambodia with wheat, fertilizers and other agricultural products, while importing Cambodian rice. “Cambodia, in turn, can export its rice to Kazakhstan, and we are ready to purchase it.
This offers an opportunity to develop mutually beneficial trade in both directions,” Tumysh said. Cambodia has a population of approximately 17.8 million and imported around $34 billion worth of goods in 2025. Its agricultural exports that year reached approximately 14.9 million tons, worth around $5 billion, including rice, rubber, cassava, maize, cashew nuts and tropical fruit.