Tay Ninh (VNA) – A conference aimed at fostering business connections in manufacturing, distribution, and logistics between Vietnam and Cambodia was held in Tay Ninh province on September 13.
Co-organised by Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce, and the Tay Ninh provincial People’s Committee, the forum discussed solutions to remove bottlenecks, unlock cooperation potential, and shape the future of sustainable connectivity.
Speaking at the event, leaders of the Tay Ninh Department of Industry and Trade underlined the province’s strategic role as a “gateway” with nearly 369km of shared border with three Cambodian provinces and a system of 21 border gates. The province’s total trade turnover exceeded 2 billion USD in the first seven months of this year, up 17% year-on-year, while cross-border trade alone reached nearly 3.83 billion USD.
Key exports included processed industrial goods such as textiles, footwear, and machinery, while imports focused on raw materials for these sectors alongside farm produce like cashew nuts and rubber. This complementary structure highlights a close economic link, with Vietnam serving both as a consumer market and a supplier of materials and processed goods for Cambodia.
However, delegates stressed that logistics and border trade infrastructure remains a major bottleneck. Congestion at border gates, underdeveloped warehousing, and the lack of multimodal connectivity are significant barriers to supply chain optimisation.
To address this, Tay Ninh outlined its 2030 vision to develop key border-gate economic zones, including Moc Bai (21,284 ha) and Xa Mat (34,890 ha), along with 14 logistics centres covering 1,288ha. Priority will be given to “green logistics” and “e-logistics” to cut costs, maximise supply chains, and protect the environment.
Logistics companies such as Logsun Global Logistics shared insights into opportunities and challenges in developing supporting export sevices, emphasising the need for digitalisation and standardised processes.
Analysts noted that synchronising legal frameworks with infrastructure investment is essential. Key documents, including the Prime Minister’s Decision 259/QD-TTg on border trade infrastructure, the Vietnam–Cambodia border trade agreement (2022), the Vietnam–Laos border trade agreement (2015), and bilateral MoUs, have created a solid foundation. The challenge now is how to effectively implement them.
Discussions with with participation of enterprises such as Tu Son supermarket chain, Green & Green Agriculture, and D&T Express brought practical perspectives on customs procedures, distribution networks, agricultural consumption, and port development. These exchanges underscored the importance of linking production, distribution, and logistics to form a complete value chain.
To realise its goals, the provincial Department of Industry and Trade made specific recommendations to the MoIT. They included adding Long An International Port to the list of ports under the Vietnam–Cambodia waterway consultation framework, upgrading the My Quy Tay main border gate, and reviewing border markets for investment in infrastructure development to better serve the trading needs of residents on both sides of the border.
Speaking to VietnamPlus, Leng Bopha, CEO of Kon Khmer Rice Mill of Cambodia, said her company joined the event to seek partners in Vietnam.
To boost exports, the two countries should consider preferential tariff mechanisms, especially within the bilateral trade agreement, she said. Reduced or exempted import tariffs on certain specialty rice varieties would make Cambodian rice more competitive and accessible for Vietnamese consumers, she suggested.
She added that stable supply chains with optimised transport and storage costs would allow Cambodian rice to maintain affordable prices without compromising quality./.
