Poipet Province Eyes Industrial Hub Status: Attracting New Investments Beyond Auto, Electronics, and Dairy Farming

Poipet Province is attracting significant attention from major domestic and international companies. In addition to existing facilities such as the Ford assembly plant and Japanese electronics factories like Minibea, the province is seeing a surge in new investment projects, particularly in the agro-industrial sector, with recent investments in cattle farms for beef and dairy production. Mr. Chay Vannsoda, Director of the Department of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation of Poipet Province, stated that provincial authorities at all levels are actively promoting the attraction of large-scale investors. This initiative aims to stimulate industrial activities, create jobs, and contribute to local economic growth. Specifically, alongside the Ford assembly plant and Japanese electronics manufacturer Minibea, Sonawith Company recently invested in a project for beef and dairy cattle farming. Mr. Vannsoda further indicated that, in addition to established companies, numerous other firms are studying the potential and investment opportunities in Poipet Province, with a primary focus on the industrial and agro-industrial sectors. Despite Poipet's geographical distance from deep-sea and river ports compared to provinces closer to Phnom Penh, provincial leadership is committed to addressing and fulfilling investor needs to ensure smooth and efficient investment processes. He emphasized that the provincial administration's efforts to facilitate and expedite legal procedures and documentation are crucial in building investor confidence. Beyond major investment projects, Poipet Province hosts hundreds of enterprises and small factories operating production lines, generating numerous employment opportunities for local residents. The ambition of Poipet provincial leaders extends beyond merely attracting factories; they aim to establish an "Industrial Cluster Zone." This zone would foster local supply chains among factories and enterprises, enabling them to supply the entire national market. Recently, Cambodian company Sonawith collaborated with Malaysia's large dairy producer, Farm Fresh Berhad, and Alpha Group to establish a joint venture named "Farm Fresh Poipet." This venture will implement a large-scale cattle farm project for beef and fresh milk production in Valengh District, Poipet Province. The farm and processing plant will be developed on approximately 1,000 hectares of land, with an estimated investment of around $68 million. Mr. Koy Rida, Governor of Poipet Province, noted that this project is expected not only to focus on dairy cattle farming and fresh milk production but also to contribute to building a new value chain in the agricultural sector, connecting animal husbandry, raw material production, and finished product processing.