A multitude of raw products are exported from Cambodia, to Thailand, Vietnam and even China, which are then processed and package and then resold around the world – crabs dressed and frozen, fish are processed in sauce, paste, canned goods, et cetera; fruit and nuts dried, roasted, packaged.
By way of example, let us take the not so humble cashew nut, exported to Thailand daily by the ton when in season; where they are shelled, roasted, salted and then tinned/packeted.
At which point they are then sold all over the world.
Labelled as ‘Product of Thailand’ by way of a small linguistic [not too mention legal] twist they can be labelled product, as refers to the overall product, but they can not be labelled ‘Produce of Thailand’
And nuts are just one example among many.
The problem is one of processing capability, that is too say; plants, technology, expertise and of course capital investment. Not too mention unfamiliarity with international sales and marketing.
As I keep banging, moaning and bitching on about – if just some of the annual US$504 million in direct aid was used to build business and trade for this Country, rather than being used to by huge 4x4 trucks for ex-pat ‘consultants’ or their Khmer counterparts…
Still I think we all know my feelings on that...
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