On the 22nd of August, 2019, GIZ-SRECA’s Cambodian team attended the PTB-GIZ international workshop on “Quality Infrastructure in the Food Industry and the Role of Standardization in Export Markets” in Siem Reap. The workshop, which was jointly organised by GIZ’s Regional Economic Development IV programme and the Development support to Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) project, aimed at raising awareness about food standard infrastructures, roles and importance of food standards in Cambodia for both domestic and international markets. Furthermore, organisers shared available support and services from government agencies and other stakeholders. Participants came from MSMEs, business and farmer associations, business chambers, academia, relevant government officials from local and national levels and relevant GIZ projects.
Official representatives and experts from PTB, GIZ, CAMCONTROL, the Royal University of Agriculture, Institute of Standards of Cambodia gave inputs on quality infrastructure in the food industry, exports, testing and food safety as well as food processing in Cambodia. In the afternoon participants could join two simultaneous ongoing workshop sessions. In the first one, PTB went more into details on value chain analysis of cassava.
In the other workshop, GIZ-SRECA’s Cambodia team delivered a presentation on “Guidelines on Export Processes for Bananas, Mangoes and Longans to China”, which attracted many questions from participants, particularly traders and producers. At the end of the presentation, participants were asked to evaluate and provide critical feedback on the export guideline presentation. The evaluation also sought to understand MSMEs’ needs in helping them to facilitate agricultural export processes from Cambodia to China. MSMEs and business associations suggested to provide tailor-made trainings at local levels on export market opportunities, export standards, etc., which enhances benefits for them from the export information sharing. These and other feedback are valuable inputs to further develop SRECA’s future interventions.
Overall, the workshop served as a fruitful platform for MSME participants and associations as well as public stakeholders to learn about food standard infrastructure, available services, and agricultural export procedures, among others.