Phnom Penh: H.E. Nicolas Forissier, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, paid an official visit to Cambodia on July 9–10, 2026, to reinforce economic cooperation and encourage greater French investment in the Kingdom.
The visit follows a series of high-level engagements between France and Cambodia and comes ahead of French President H.E. Emmanuel Macron’s planned visit to Cambodia in November 2026.
During his stay, Minister Delegate Forissier met with senior Cambodian officials, including H.E. Dr Aun Pornmoniroth, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance; H.E. Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce; H.E. Keo Rottanak, Minister of Mines and Energy; and H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra, Minister of Health.
Speaking at a press conference held at the French Embassy in Phnom Penh on July 10, Minister Delegate Forissier reaffirmed France’s commitment to deepening its economic partnership with Cambodia.
“France sees Cambodia as a trusted partner in Southeast Asia. Our ambition is to strengthen trade, encourage more French companies to invest here, and build long-term partnerships that create value for both our countries,” said Minister Delegate Forissier.
In addition to private-sector investment, France has significantly expanded its development financing in Cambodia. In 2025, Cambodia received seven major French-financed projects focusing on agriculture, energy, clean water, and climate change, with total funding exceeding 1.5 billion euros and approximately US$1.7 billion.
According to Jacques Pellet, who spoke on May 5, 2025, French financing for Cambodia in 2025 reached its highest level ever, compared with 215 million euros and approximately US$230 million in 2024.
“The scale of French financing demonstrates our long-term confidence in Cambodia’s development and our commitment to supporting projects that benefit both the economy and the environment,” Minister Delegate Forissier said.
He also highlighted the contribution of the French private sector, noting that around 500 French companies are operating in Cambodia across a range of industries.
“French businesses bring expertise, innovation, and high standards. We want to support Cambodia’s sustainable economic development while creating new opportunities for French enterprises,” he added.
The discussions with Cambodian ministers focused on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, energy, healthcare, and other strategic sectors, while exploring new avenues for bilateral economic collaboration. The visit marks another step in strengthening France and Cambodia relations and lays the groundwork for President Emmanuel Macron’s upcoming official visit to Cambodia later this year.
Photo by: Engly Tuy
