New transit system marks a departure from traditional maritime routes and informal border crossings
Cambodia officially launched the new overland route to China via Laos on 22 July, opening up a new way to export fresh agricultural products at reduced logistics costs, according to a report by local publication, Khmer Times.
The launch event, which was held in Vientiane, was attended by Cambodia’s minister of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries Dith Tina and his Lao counterpart alongside representatives from the private sector.
In an address during the ceremony, Dith Tina said the new route was the product of “persistent efforts and active negotiations” between the Cambodian and Laos governments.
“This is a positive sign and a new opportunity for farmers as well as business owners in the agricultural sector in Cambodia to seize the opportunity and expand the potential of Cambodian agricultural products in the international market,” the minister said.
Cambodia currently exports various agricultural products including fresh bananas, mangoes, longan and durian to China.
Khim Finan, undersecretary of state and spokesperson of the ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, told the Khmer Times the new trade corridor represented a strategic shift in logistics for the country. He said the “highly efficient” overland transit system marks a departure from both traditional, slower maritime routes and informal border crossings.
“It has not only shortened our transit time to just a week, down from 15 to 20 days, but has also boosted the competitiveness of Cambodian agricultural products,” he said.
To mark the opening of the route, four container trucks loaded with fresh Cambodian durians departed Cambodia this week headed to the Laos border and onto mainland China.
