MALAYSIA and Cambodia are looking forward to enhancing cooperation in investment, the halal industry, digital technology, education and defence to further strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said these issues have been discussed and are among the priorities raised during a bilateral meeting held at Peace Palace in Phnom Penh today.

“Discussions were very elaborated and comprehensive, touching on issues of trade and investments, which happen to be our priorities in our bilateral relations, as well as some other concerns,” he said in a joint press conference with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during his one-day official visit to Cambodia.

Earlier, Anwar and Hun Sen witnessed the signing of two memorandums of understanding (MOU) between the Malaysian and Cambodian governments. 

The MOU is on the recruitment, employment and repatriation of Cambodian workers in domestic and formal industries to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the labour sector.

Regarding the halal industry, the prime minister said Malaysia is quite advanced on the matter and would give opportunity to both Malaysia and Cambodia to use facilities in order to encourage and facilitate export to Muslim countries, particularly the Middle East.

Anwar also spoke of the success of rice production in Cambodia where he would encourage Malaysian rice companies catering to the import of rice to consider the option of importing rice and cashew nuts from the Indochinese country.

“The (Cambodian) prime minister mentioned the success of rice production, which is something commendable with surplus production… I know for a fact that rice production is not easy but Cambodia has managed to increase its productivity,” he said.

Both countries, according to Anwar, have also agreed to utilise the availability of bamboo in Cambodia by getting investors to help in processing and exporting it.

“You (Hun Sen) have mentioned the issue of the need to continue training, other than government-to-government matters, like defence and technical expertise and administration.

“On digital technology and education, we will of course be able to work together once a joint committee sits down, hopefully by the end of the year. I think it is Malaysia’s turn to host after a lapse (of) so many years,” he added. – Bernama, March 27, 2023.