The Federation of Associations for Small and Medium Enterprises of Cambodia (FASMEC) is seeking to expand market opportunities for Cambodian SMEs in Myanmar through stronger business-to-business connections, improved market access and cooperation with Myanmar's business organisations.
The initiative came during a FASMEC delegation visit to Yangon, where FASMEC President Te Taing Por led board members in meetings with Cambodian diplomatic officials, Myanmar business representatives and entrepreneurs.
The delegation's activities focused on building direct commercial relationships and helping Cambodian businesses better understand the Myanmar market.
FASMEC seeks stronger access to Myanmar
Taing Por met with Cheng Manith, Ambassador of Cambodia to Myanmar, to gain a clearer understanding of Myanmar's business and investment environment.
Ambassador Manith reaffirmed the Cambodian embassy's commitment to supporting Cambodian SMEs and traders seeking to understand the Myanmar market, expand their operations, invest or export products to the country.
Taing Por said the engagement represents an opportunity for Cambodian traders to expand exports into international markets, particularly within ASEAN, while strengthening commercial ties between Cambodia and Myanmar.
The discussions also focused on the role of business organisations in creating practical connections between companies from the two countries.
Key Facts
| Indicator | Details |
|---|---|
| Cambodian organisation | FASMEC |
| FASMEC President | Te Taing Por |
| Market targeted | Myanmar |
| Main location | Yangon |
| Cambodian diplomatic representative | Ambassador Cheng Manith |
| Myanmar business organisation | UMFCCI |
| UMFCCI representative | Vice-President Win Si Thu |
| Myanmar partner organisation | Myanmar Women Entrepreneurs Network |
| Cooperation instrument | Memorandum of Understanding |
| MOU focus | Knowledge and technology, networking, competitiveness and market expansion |
| ASEAN focus | Imports and exports |
| Cambodia economic establishments | 753,670, according to 2022 Economic Census |
| Jobs supported by establishments | Around 3 million |
| Broader MSME-related workforce | More than 6 million people |
Business talks with Myanmar's chamber of commerce
During the Yangon visit, the FASMEC delegation held working discussions and a business-to-business meeting with the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI).
The meeting was led by UMFCCI Vice-President Win Si Thu and Ambassador Manith, alongside entrepreneurs from Cambodia and Myanmar.
Taing Por introduced FASMEC's mission to promote Cambodian SMEs internationally and said he hoped the meeting would serve as a bridge for stronger trade relations between entrepreneurs from the two countries.
The meeting subsequently moved into a business-to-business session and matching event, giving entrepreneurs and traders an opportunity to exchange information, establish contacts and explore potential direct investment opportunities.
New MOU creates framework for SME cooperation
FASMEC also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Myanmar Women Entrepreneurs Network (MYANWEN) during the visit.
The agreement establishes an official cooperation framework between enterprises from Cambodia and Myanmar.
The MOU focuses on three strategic areas:
Experience and technology exchange
Sharing knowledge, experience and best practices between businesses.Business networking
Strengthening direct trade relationships and exploring joint investment opportunities.Competitiveness and market expansion
Creating additional trade opportunities for imports and exports within the ASEAN region.
The agreement provides a formal structure for continued business engagement rather than limiting cooperation to a single delegation visit.
Embassy highlights bilateral economic cooperation
Ambassador Manith encouraged businesses from both countries to continue strengthening economic, trade and investment cooperation for mutual benefit.
UMFCCI Vice-President Win Si Thu also highlighted cooperation between the private sectors of Cambodia and Myanmar and the opportunities available to support SME development.
The focus on SMEs is significant because smaller businesses often depend heavily on business networks, market information and local partnerships when entering foreign markets.
Cambodia's wider SME agenda
The Myanmar engagement comes as Cambodia is also developing a broader policy framework for its micro, small and medium-sized enterprise sector.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance held discussions in June on the Draft National Strategy on the Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 2026-2030.
According to the supplied source, the strategy is intended to support Cambodia's ambition of becoming a high-income country by 2050 and prepare for the country's planned graduation from Least Developed Country status in 2029.
Cambodia's 2022 Economic Census recorded 753,670 economic establishments nationwide, providing around three million jobs.
The broader workforce supported by micro, small and medium enterprises, including enterprises, self-employed operators and workers in the informal economy, accounts for more than six million people nationwide, according to the source.
Angkor Times Analysis
FASMEC's Myanmar initiative illustrates how SME internationalisation can begin with business networks and market access rather than immediately with large investment projects.
The Yangon visit combined three practical elements: market intelligence, business matchmaking and institutional cooperation. Meetings with the Cambodian embassy can help businesses understand the operating environment, while engagement with UMFCCI and MYANWEN provides channels for direct contact with potential partners.
The MOU with MYANWEN is particularly relevant because it creates a formal framework covering technology and experience exchange, business networking, joint investment opportunities and ASEAN market expansion.
However, the source does not announce specific export contracts, investment amounts, companies entering the Myanmar market or confirmed trade volumes resulting from the meetings. The immediate outcome is therefore the creation of relationships and cooperation mechanisms that could support future commercial activity.
For Cambodian SMEs, the broader opportunity lies in using ASEAN markets to diversify customers and suppliers. Turning that opportunity into actual trade will depend on product competitiveness, market demand, regulatory requirements, logistics, financing and the ability of businesses to maintain local partnerships.
What the Cambodia-Myanmar SME Initiative Covers?
Market access: Helping Cambodian businesses explore opportunities in Myanmar.
Business matchmaking: Connecting entrepreneurs and traders from both countries.
Investment opportunities: Providing a platform to explore potential direct investments and partnerships.
Knowledge transfer: Sharing experience, technology and business practices.
ASEAN trade: Supporting opportunities for imports and exports within the regional market.
Women entrepreneurship: The MOU with MYANWEN creates a formal channel for cooperation involving Myanmar's women entrepreneurs network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is FASMEC engaging with Myanmar?
FASMEC is seeking to expand market opportunities for Cambodian SMEs through stronger business-to-business relationships, improved market access and cooperation with Myanmar business organisations.
What did FASMEC discuss with the Cambodian ambassador?
FASMEC President Te Taing Por met Ambassador Cheng Manith to gain a clearer understanding of Myanmar's business and investment climate and discuss support for Cambodian SMEs and traders.
Which Myanmar business organisation did FASMEC meet?
The delegation held discussions with the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, or UMFCCI.
Did FASMEC sign an agreement in Myanmar?
Yes. FASMEC signed an MOU with the Myanmar Women Entrepreneurs Network, establishing a cooperation framework between enterprises in the two countries.
What does the MOU cover?
It covers exchange of experience and technology, business networking, direct trade and joint investment opportunities, as well as competitiveness and market expansion for imports and exports within ASEAN.
Are specific investment projects confirmed?
The supplied source does not identify any confirmed investment project, investment amount or export contract resulting from the meetings.
How large is Cambodia's SME sector?
The source cites the 2022 Economic Census, which recorded 753,670 economic establishments and around three million jobs. It also states that the workforce supported by MSMEs, self-employed operators and informal-economy workers exceeds six million people.