Indian Economy News

Third Meeting of India-Cambodia Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment (JWGTI) Held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The third meeting of the India-Cambodia Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment (JWGTI) was held in Phnom Penh on August 24, 2026, with both sides discussing measures to diversify and deepen bilateral trade and investment. India-Cambodia bilateral trade grew by over 36% to US$ 406.78 million in FY 2025-26, from US$ 299 million in the previous financial year, while trade during April-June 2026 recorded 63.25% year-on-year growth. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Amit Verma, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India, and Mr. Long Kemvichet, Director General of International Trade, Ministry of Commerce, Cambodia. Discussions covered cooperation in traditional medicine, e-governance, recognition of Indian pharmacopeia, agriculture, market access, dyes and pigments, banking and insurance, along with reconciliation of trade statistics and information sharing on trade fairs and business delegations. Both sides also welcomed the UPI acceptance facility at KHQR-enabled merchants in Phnom Penh and discussed enabling Cambodian payment applications to scan UPI QR codes in India.

The two countries further discussed early signing of the MoU on Customs Cooperation, which is expected to bring greater uniformity in customs procedures, and welcomed progress towards completing the Bilateral Investment Treaty. Mr. Amit Verma also held discussions with Mr. Tith Rithipol, Under Secretary of State, Cambodia, on bilateral trade and investment, pharmaceuticals and the UPI-KHQR digital payments linkage. During his meeting with members of the Indian Business Chamber in Cambodia (IBCC), discussions focused on facilitating Indian investment, identifying priority sectors including education, healthcare, IT, agriculture and tourism, and exploring an “Invest in Cambodia” roadshow in India. The engagement is expected to support stronger trade, investment and digital connectivity between the two countries, while creating opportunities for Indian businesses to access wider ASEAN markets. The next JWGTI meeting is scheduled to be held in India in 2027.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.