On June 9th 2023, CJCC, CJBI, and YEAC, jointly organized a seminar under the topic “Trade Facilitation between Japan and Cambodia and Digitization of Trade” at Angkor-Kizuna Hall and through Zoom. This seminar was conducted under two main specific purposes: (1) to exchange views with Cambodian officials, the ASEAN 2022 chair country, on the future relationship building between Japan and ASEAN, especially on the strengthening of the supply chains and trade digitalization with keyword "trust" and (2) to promote mutual understanding on the necessity to facilitate trade between Japan and Cambodia, including the digitization and unification of the process as well as smoothening the border logistics of Thailand/Cambodia and Vietnam/Cambodia among the government and businesspersons of Cambodia and Japan. Plus, we are indeed honor to have highlighted remark under the finest presence of H.E Ueno Atsushi, the Ambassador of Japan to Cambodia, H.E Pen Sorasak, Minster of Commerce, H.E Samheng Bora, Secretary of State of Ministry of Commerce, and Oknha Pech Bolen, President of YEAC.

On top of that, there was also an interesting panel discussion moderated by Dr. Ngov Penghuy, Director and Designated Associate Professor, Asian Satellite Campuses Institute, Cambodian Satellite Campus, Nagoya University, with the presence of six panelists, whose background are diverse from both public and private sector including Mr. Hong Bunseng , Deputy Director of Department of International Cooperation (DICO), Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Moeun Sopheakdey, Deputy Chief of Information Technology Office, Information Technology Department, General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia, Mr. Uematsu Hiroshi, Chairman of the Investment Committee, Japanese Business Association of Cambodia (JBAC) and the Executive Director/CEO of Royal Group Phnom Penh SEZ Plc., Mr. Someya Satoru, Managing Director, COO, CMO, Head of Global & Alliance Business Department, TradeWaltz Inc., Mr. Kobayashi Kenichi, Chief Advisor (JICA expert) of the Project for Improving the Logistics System of Cambodia ,Ministry of Public Works and Transportation Cambodia, last but not least, Ms. Soeng Sopha, Chief Executive Officer of Sela Pepper. After this sharing session, we noted that all the participants have gained insightful experiences and real action especially shared by the panelists from the private sector on how they get over the barriers of import and export procedures and lead their business to the international market. Furthermore, this session also demonstrated the importance of the involvement of all related stakeholders including the government ministries and the private sectors in developing the trading sector and foresting SMEs development by accelerating new technologies, as well as in collaborating with other countries, specifically Japan.

In brief, this is such a remarkable seminar where more than 400 audiences come from diversified backgrounds including business owners, representatives of public and private sectors, and college students. We do believe that all participants would gain a positive view to improve their businesses, especially the trading sector.