Phnom penh: Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation H.E. Hem Vanndy recently engaged in discussions with representatives from the Logistics and Supply Chain Business Association in Cambodia (LOSCBA) to explore strategies for enhancing supply-chain resilience, local sourcing, shipment consolidation, and leveraging technology within the logistics sector.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Minister Vanndy emphasized the critical role of developing professional services and establishing reliable logistics systems to boost Cambodia's competitiveness. He pointed out that competitiveness is not solely determined by cost, citing Singapore as an example of a nation that competes globally through trust, standards, and transparency rather than low logistics costs. Minister Vanndy encouraged the association to utilize member operational data to pinpoint supply-chain bottlenecks, sourcing risks, and cost-reduction opportunities, while leveraging practical industry experience to inform policymaking.
Discussions between MISTI and LOSCBA also highlighted the potential for digital solutions to enhance shipment consolidation for Cambodian SMEs and exporters, enabling more efficient transportation of smaller consignments. Mr. Chea Chandara, President of LOSCBA, expressed the association's commitment to elevating member professionalism and acting as a liaison between businesses and the government. He underscored the importance of members being perceived as quality service providers, rather than mere transporters.
Furthermore, Mr. Chandara underlined the necessity of improving connections between domestic manufacturers and suppliers. This would enable businesses to increase local sourcing of production inputs and raw materials, aligning with the evolving market demands as Cambodia progresses towards graduating from its least developed country status. The discussion also covered potential technical collaborations to reduce logistics and supply-chain operational time and costs, ultimately aiming to enhance the competitiveness of Cambodian SMEs and industries.