On October 12, 2026, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet delivered a keynote address at the Cambodia–Azerbaijan Business Forum, expressing his commitment to strengthening economic ties and expanding trade and investment opportunities between the two countries. He welcomed His Excellency Mikayil Jabbarov, the high-level Azerbaijani delegation and participating investors, noting that the presence of the private sectors of both countries reflected confidence and interest in broader cooperation. He also recalled the official visit to Azerbaijan in April 2014 by Samdech Techo Hun Sen, who was Cambodia’s Prime Minister at the time, as a foundation for stronger bilateral relations. The signing of a framework agreement on trade and economic cooperation and an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation was also described as an important step in laying a solid foundation for a future economic partnership.
Hun Manet said that although economic cooperation between Cambodia and Azerbaijan still had considerable untapped potential, the two countries possessed complementary strengths. Azerbaijan has strengths in energy, petrochemicals, renewable energy, technology, agriculture, logistics and digital infrastructure, while Cambodia offers manufacturing, agriculture, a young workforce and access to regional markets. He highlighted the appeal of Cambodia’s investment environment, including a population of which approximately 60% is under 35, tax incentives of up to 12 years, permission for 100% foreign ownership in investments allowed by law, and government support through the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC). Cambodia also benefits from its strategic position in ASEAN, infrastructure development and trade agreements that expand access to regional and international markets. In clean energy, he said Cambodia’s renewable energy use had reached a share of 63% as of July 2026, with a target of 70% by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.
The Prime Minister called on the public and private sectors of both countries to continue promoting trade, exploring new investment opportunities and establishing mutually beneficial partnerships. The Cambodian government reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating investment procedures and supporting investors to help businesses operate smoothly and succeed. He stressed that geographical distance was not a major obstacle if the two countries shared a vision of economic growth and prosperity for their peoples.
