The Ministry of Commerce is taking a significant step towards establishing a network of wholesale markets across Cambodia with an aim to improve market efficiency, reduce post-harvest losses, and stabilise prices. The ministry has formed a working group to explore the feasibility of creating government-managed wholesale markets in the capital and provinces. The working group started conducting studies first on the development of local agricultural markets for two days, on July 1-2, by visiting local agricultural markets in Battambang and Kampong Thom provinces. They analysed factors like market location, infrastructure needs, product types, and potential benefits for all stakeholders. The working group was divided into two teams. The first team, led by H.E. Seang Thay, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Commerce and Chairman of the Working Group, visited Battambang province, met with provincial deputy governor, officials of the Provincial Department of Commerce and the Provincial Department of Agricult ure, Forestry and Fisheries, and some traders in the province to discuss and understand the situation of fruit and vegetable growing, harvesting, transport, demands and supplies in the province, as well as challenges and suggestions of producers and traders. The team then visited Phu Puy wholesale market to directly inspect the activities of trade, supplies and distribution of agricultural products, as well as went to the agricultural production community to inquire about the status of harvesting and distribution of agricultural products. The second team, headed by H.E. Oum Kosal, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Commerce and Vice Chairman of the Working Group, met with Kampong Thom provincial governor, officials of the Provincial Department of Commerce, and some traders in Kampong Thom to discuss related works, productions, supplies and flows of agricultural products, especially fruits and vegetables, market activities in the province, as well as listened to the challenges and suggestions of prod ucers and traders. The team also visited some agricultural production communities. The establishment of nationwide wholesale markets holds the potential to transform Cambodia's agricultural sector by improving market efficiency, reducing post-harvest losses, and stabilising prices. These markets could contribute significantly to food security and economic growth in Cambodia. Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse