Third Meeting of India-Cambodia Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment (JWGTI)

The Third Meeting of the India-Cambodia Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment (JWGTI) was held on August 24, 2026, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The meeting was co-chaired by Amit Verma, Joint Secretary at India's Department of Commerce, and Long Kemvichet, Director General of International Trade, Ministry of Commerce, Cambodia, marking the third such meeting since the JWGTI was institutionalised between the two countries.

Key Discussion on Third Meeting of India-Cambodia JWGTI

1. Both sides discussed ways to diversify trade, including cooperation in traditional medicine, e-governance, and recognition of Indian pharmacopeia
2. The meeting welcomed the successful rollout of UPI acceptance at KHQR-enabled merchants in Phnom Penh since June 2, 2026, and discussed enabling Cambodian payment apps to scan UPI QR codes in India
3. Both nations agreed to move forward with signing the MoU on Customs Cooperation to bring more uniformity to customs procedures
4. Discussions covered cooperation in agriculture, market access, and expanding trade in dyes and pigments
5. Banking and insurance sector cooperation was also discussed as an area for future collaboration
6. Both sides welcomed progress on the Bilateral Investment Treaty and agreed to work toward signing it soon
7. The next JWGTI meeting is scheduled to be held in India in 2027

On the sidelines of the meeting, Amit Verma also held discussions with Cambodian officials and members of the Indian Business Chamber in Cambodia, focusing on identifying priority sectors like education, healthcare, IT, agriculture, and tourism, along with plans for an "Invest in Cambodia" roadshow to attract Indian businesses looking to access ASEAN markets.

India-Cambodia Bilateral Trade Grows Over 36% to USD 406.78 Million in 2025-26

Both sides noted encouraging progress in bilateral trade, which grew by more than 36% to reach USD 406.78 million in 2025-26, up from USD 299 million the previous year. The momentum continued into the April-June 2026 quarter, which recorded a 63.25% year-on-year growth. Despite this progress, Cambodia currently ranks as India's 8th largest trading partner within ASEAN, making up just 0.31% of India's total trade with the bloc, indicating there's still significant room for the relationship to grow further.