To advance customs modernisation and improve cross-border trade facilitation and supervision, Cambodia’s General Department of Customs and Excise recently sent a delegation to China to study smart customs development and applications of artificial intelligence (AI), seeking experience to support its digital transformation.
According to the department, a delegation led by its Director-General, Kun Nhem, visited Jiangsu province from July 27 to 31 and held exchanges at Nuctech Company Limited, focusing on integrated smart customs solutions and intelligent inspection technologies.
During the visit, the delegation learned about mobile container scanners, intelligent equipment for detecting drugs and explosives, AI-assisted analysis of scanned images, and Smart Gate systems. It also visited the company’s manufacturing facilities to learn about the development, production and use of this equipment.
The department said the visit aimed to draw on China’s experience in smart customs development in support of Cambodia’s Customs Reform and Modernisation Strategy 2024–2028 and Information and Communication Technology Strategy 2025–2029. These efforts seek to accelerate customs digitalisation, improve clearance efficiency, strengthen revenue collection, and combat smuggling and tax evasion.
The department and Nuctech began cooperating in 2003. Cambodia currently has 15 container scanners deployed at international airports, international ports and major border checkpoints, as well as an Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) and a centralised system for managing scanned images, supporting the continued digitalisation of customs supervision.
The department has also made digital development a priority for 2026, including reforms such as pre-arrival declarations and clearance to streamline procedures and further facilitate trade.
According to the figures cited in the report, the department collected approximately US$1.53 billion in revenue in the first half of 2026, up 4.5% year on year. It said it would continue improving smart supervision to strengthen customs administration and support national economic development and the government’s reform goals.
