Cambodia wants a bigger slice of the Gulf’s halal food market. Can it scale?
Cambodia is banking on halal certification to turn its agricultural abundance into a new export engine, with Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf emerging as priority markets.
The opportunity is significant: while the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) imports more than 80% of its food needs, Cambodia produces vast volumes of rice, cashews, fruits, and spices.
However, the current trade reality lags far behind its potential. Despite the 2024 Cambodia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and a newly formed Saudi-Cambodia Business Council, export volumes to the Middle East remain a negligible fraction of the Southeast Asian nation’s total output.
Free, in under 30 seconds
Join thousands of professionals reading Salaam Gateway — the Global Islamic Economy Gateway.
Already a member? Sign in
- 5 free articles every month
- Weekly Islamic-economy newsletter
- Save articles to read later
