The message was delivered at the 3rd Cambodia Digital Trade Forum and Online Expo, held from September 11 to 13 at the Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Center in Phnom Penh under the theme “Advancing Cambodia’s Digital Trade Towards 2030.”
Key Facts
- What happened: Cambodia urged stronger private sector participation in developing digital trade.
- Who: Commerce Minister Cham Nimul, alongside representatives from the Asian Development Bank, US Embassy, Toyota Cambodia and other stakeholders.
- Where: Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Center, Phnom Penh.
- When: September 11 to 13, 2026.
- Key figure: Cambodia’s e commerce revenue is estimated at $1.1 billion in 2025 and projected to reach $1.8 billion by 2029.
- Regional opportunity: ASEAN online trade could reach around $2 trillion by 2030 if the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement is effectively implemented.
- Sector: Digital trade, e commerce, technology and business.
- Why it matters: Cambodia is seeking to give businesses, particularly MSMEs, better access to regional and global digital markets.
Cambodia’s Digital Trade Agenda Moves Beyond Online Selling
The Ministry of Commerce is positioning digital trade as a broader economic ecosystem rather than simply another channel for selling Cambodian products.
At the forum, Nimul said Cambodia needs to strengthen the foundations that allow businesses to reach customers, complete transactions and compete in regional and international markets.
The minister identified two interconnected areas of infrastructure.
Hard infrastructure includes telecommunications networks, internet connectivity, digital payment systems, logistics, warehousing, data infrastructure and digital platforms.
Soft infrastructure includes laws and regulations, consumer protection, data governance, cybersecurity, digital identity, interoperability, electronic transactions, paperless trade, standards, skills and trust.
The distinction is important for businesses. Digital platforms alone cannot create a functioning digital marketplace if customers cannot make reliable payments, goods cannot be delivered efficiently or companies lack clear rules for operating online.
Why Cambodia’s Digital Market Is Becoming More Important?
Cambodia's e commerce market is entering a period of expected expansion. Nimul said revenue was estimated at approximately $1.1 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach around $1.8 billion by 2029.
Angkor Times previously reported on the government's broader digital trade push, including the same $1.1 billion to $1.8 billion market projection and efforts to strengthen infrastructure, regulation and digital market access for Cambodian businesses.
For MSMEs, this expansion could make digital channels increasingly important for reaching customers beyond their traditional geographic markets. However, the available information does not establish that all businesses will benefit equally. Their ability to participate will depend on connectivity, skills, logistics, payment systems, regulations and the ability to build consumer trust.
Cambodia Builds the Policy Framework for Digital Trade
The Ministry of Commerce is developing several policy initiatives to support the sector.
These include the Cambodia Trade Policy Framework towards 2030, which contains a digital trade pillar, the Digital Trade Strategy 2025 to 2030, and an inter ministerial regulation covering professional codes of conduct for intermediaries and service providers involved in e commerce.
The policy direction is consistent with Cambodia's wider effort to turn digital trade into a practical business tool. The country's 3rd Digital Trade Forum also featured initiatives focused on digital products, women entrepreneurs, young people, cybersecurity and actual online transactions.
This suggests that Cambodia's digital trade agenda is increasingly focused on the entire commercial chain, from product presentation and customer access to payments, logistics, regulation and market expansion.
ASEAN’s Digital Economy Could Create a Larger Regional Market
The opportunity extends beyond Cambodia's domestic market.
Nimul said implementation of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement could help increase regional online trade to around $2 trillion by 2030, compared with approximately $1 trillion currently.
For Cambodian companies, a more integrated ASEAN digital economy could provide opportunities to reach customers and business partners outside the country. Angkor Times has reported that DEFA covers areas including digital trade, e commerce, payments, digital identities, cybersecurity, cross border data flows and talent mobility.
The potential benefit, however, will depend on implementation and the ability of Cambodian businesses to operate effectively within increasingly connected regional systems.
US Sees Digital Trade as an Opportunity for Cambodian SMEs
Benjamin Chiang, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Phnom Penh, said digital trade can strengthen the competitiveness and flexibility of Cambodian SMEs while helping businesses connect with regional and global markets.
Chiang also described the United States as an important trading partner and Cambodia's largest export destination for products including travel goods, footwear and apparel.
He said digital trade creates another avenue for businesses in both countries to expand operations and innovate, while stronger cooperation between government and the private sector could help unlock additional trade and investment opportunities.
ADB Highlights Infrastructure, Security and Inclusion
Vijay Kumar Akasam, Country Operations Head for Cambodia at the Asian Development Bank, said digital transformation is creating opportunities to improve business efficiency, expand market access and strengthen Cambodia's links with the regional and global economy.
He stressed the need for systems that are secure, fast and interoperable, including trusted digital identities, efficient data exchange, secure payment systems and reliable logistics.
Akasam also highlighted the importance of ensuring that women entrepreneurs and digitally skilled young people can participate in the expansion of Cambodia's digital economy.
Cambodia’s Digital Trade Growth Depends on More Than Technology
The discussion at the forum points to a central issue for Cambodia's digital economy: expanding online commerce requires more than getting businesses onto digital platforms.
Businesses need reliable connectivity, efficient payments, logistics networks, cybersecurity protections, clear regulations, skilled workers and consumer trust. These elements need to function together if digital trade is to translate into measurable commercial growth.
Cambodia's recent move toward electronic Certificates of Origin provides another example of this wider digitalisation process, with online procedures designed to make export documentation faster, more transparent and secure.
What Comes Next for Cambodia’s Digital Trade?
The Ministry of Commerce's stated direction is to strengthen both hard and soft infrastructure while increasing private sector participation in shaping digital trade policies.
The next challenge will be implementation. Cambodia has already established a 2030 policy direction and a growing digital commerce market, but the available information does not yet demonstrate how quickly individual reforms will translate into lower business costs, higher productivity or increased exports.
For Cambodian MSMEs, entrepreneurs and larger companies, the practical test will be whether the emerging digital ecosystem makes it easier to find customers, receive payments, move goods, comply with regulations and enter regional markets.
Data Table
| Metric | Figure | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambodia e commerce revenue | $1.1 billion | 2025 estimate | Ministry of Commerce |
| Projected Cambodia e commerce revenue | $1.8 billion | 2029 | Ministry of Commerce |
| ASEAN online trade | About $1 trillion | Current estimate | Ministry of Commerce |
| Potential ASEAN online trade | About $2 trillion | 2030 | Ministry of Commerce |
| Cambodia Digital Trade Forum | 3rd edition | Sept. 11 to 13, 2026 | Ministry of Commerce |
Angkor Times Analysis
From a business perspective, Cambodia's digital trade agenda is moving toward a more complete commercial ecosystem. The projected increase from $1.1 billion in e commerce revenue in 2025 to $1.8 billion by 2029 indicates a growing market, but infrastructure and regulatory capacity will determine how effectively businesses can capture that opportunity.
For investors and entrepreneurs, the more significant opportunity may be in the supporting systems around digital commerce, including payments, logistics, cybersecurity, data services, digital platforms and skills. Cambodia's connection to a potentially larger ASEAN digital market could expand the addressable market for companies that are able to meet regional standards and operate across borders.
At the same time, growth should not be measured only by transaction volume. The government's emphasis on infrastructure, regulation, skills, trust and inclusion suggests that the longer term objective is to make digital trade a practical driver of competitiveness for Cambodian enterprises, particularly MSMEs.
Sources
- Ministry of Commerce statements reported at the 3rd Cambodia Digital Trade Forum and Online Expo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cambodia's digital trade target toward 2030?
Cambodia is working to build a stronger digital trade ecosystem by improving infrastructure, regulations, skills, cybersecurity, payments, logistics and market access.
How large is Cambodia's e commerce market?
The Ministry of Commerce estimated Cambodia's e commerce revenue at about $1.1 billion in 2025 and projects it to reach approximately $1.8 billion by 2029.
Why is private sector participation important?
The government says businesses need to be more involved in shaping digital trade policies and regulations so that they respond to practical commercial needs.
What infrastructure does Cambodia need for digital trade?
Hard infrastructure includes telecommunications, internet connectivity, digital payments, logistics, warehousing, data infrastructure and digital platforms. Soft infrastructure includes regulations, cybersecurity, digital identity, consumer protection, skills and trust.
What could ASEAN DEFA mean for Cambodia?
The ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement could support greater regional digital integration. The Ministry of Commerce said ASEAN online trade could potentially reach around $2 trillion by 2030 if the framework is effectively implemented.
Which Cambodian businesses could benefit?
MSMEs, exporters, online businesses and other enterprises that can use digital platforms to reach customers and markets could benefit. The government and development partners have also highlighted opportunities for women entrepreneurs and digitally skilled young people.
Why are cybersecurity and digital trust important?
As more commercial activity moves online, businesses and consumers need secure systems, trusted digital identities, reliable payments and appropriate data governance to support confidence in digital transactions.
What is Cambodia doing to support digital trade?
The Ministry of Commerce is developing the Cambodia Trade Policy Framework towards 2030, the Digital Trade Strategy 2025 to 2030 and regulations covering e commerce intermediaries and service providers.