Synchronization of Vietnam-Cambodia border trade infrastructure proposed to reach $20bn trade goal

The Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the People's Committee of Tay Ninh Province in southern Vietnam and the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia, organized a conference to connect Vietnamese and Cambodian enterprises in manufacturing, distribution, and logistics on Saturday.

During the conference, a wide range of proposals and solutions were presented by ministries, sectors, local authorities, associations, and businesses from both countries, aiming to achieve a bilateral trade target of US$20 billion by 2030.

The conference was co-chaired by Phan Thi Thang, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Vietnam; Nguyen Hong Thanh, vice-chairman of the administration in Tay Ninh Province; and Under Secretary of State of the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce Tith Rithipol, with the participation of more than 200 delegates from various departments, border provinces, enterprises, and banking associations from both countries.

In her opening remarks, Thang reaffirmed that Cambodia is a neighboring country with strategic significance in Vietnam's trade, acting as a key gateway for transportation and goods transit within the Mekong Subregion.

Vietnam and Cambodia have signed several bilateral cooperation agreements that provide a legal framework and favorable conditions for border trade.

These include the 2019 memorandum of understanding on the development and connection of Vietnam–Cambodia border trade infrastructure, the 2024 border trade agreement, and the bilateral trade promotion agreement for the 2025–26 period.

The implementation of these agreements has contributed to the development of border gate infrastructure, border markets, goods warehouses, and logistics services in border provinces.

This has helped shorten customs clearance times, enhance supply chain connectivity, and facilitate Vietnamese enterprises in expanding cooperation with Cambodian partners, promoting their products, and improving competitiveness, thereby contributing to local economic development and strengthening comprehensive bilateral relations, said Thang.

Vietnam–Cambodia bilateral trade reached $10.1 billion in 2024, up 17.5 percent from the previous year, according to Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade.

By July 2025, bilateral trade had already surpassed $7 billion, marking a 16.3-percent year-on-year increase.

Of this, Vietnam's exports to Cambodia totaled around $3.2 billion, while imports reached $3.8 billion.

Vietnam's exports were dominated by industrial and energy products, whereas agricultural goods accounted for a large share of imports from Cambodia.

At the conference, experts and representatives from ministries, associations, and enterprises of both countries proposed further investing in and upgrading border roads and checkpoints; establishing closed-loop agricultural value chains with quality assurance and traceability; enhancing information sharing and cooperation to combat smuggling and trade fraud; and preferential policies to foster a more favorable business environment.

The land border between the two countries stretches 1,137 kilometers, crossing eight Vietnamese provinces and nine Cambodian provinces, with 50 border gates.

In July, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade approved a project to promote border trade and boost exports to the Cambodian market, setting a target of $15 billion in bilateral trade by 2027 and $20 billion by 2030.