November 27, 2017

Israel investors to establish dairy farm in Cambodia

Investors from Israel are planning to raise 500 dairy cattle on 300 hectares of land in Cambodia's Takeo province, as part of an early effort to expand dairy production in the country, Khmer Times reported.

The move is expected to boost Cambodia's production of milk-based products, which can meet the demand of both the local population and overseas markets, according to an official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.   

Israeli businessmen have also completed market research on the Cambodian dairy sector, Nao Thuok, secretary of state at the Ministry of Agriculture, said. "It is important to have investment in dairy cattle farms because Cambodia now depends on imports alone to supply dairy products to the local market and doesn't have the capacity to export any dairy products," he remarked, pointing that the investment in Takeo will create many jobs for Cambodians.

Additionally, Thuok praised Israel for its "very advanced and mechanised agricultural sector" and hope their technologies would be introduced into the country. He added that the investors are currently considering the next step for the site in Takeo. Cattle for the future farm will come from Vietnam, where Israeli companies have invested in the dairy sector there.

Presently, Cambodia's sole dairy factory is Angkor Dairy Products which is located in the Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone. The plant obtains its raw materials from Denmark, Poland and the US.

- Khmer Times