Cambodian products face somewhere between skepticism and curiosity

Monday, April 9, 2007
By Sarah Oliveira
Cambodge Soir
Unofficial translation from French by Tola Ek

Click here to read Cambodge Soir’s original article in French

A fair was organized this weekend in Phnom Penh to display made in Cambodia products. Cambodians place more confidence in local products, but some remain skeptical.

The Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in Phnom Penh organized last weekend the fifth fair named “Buy Cambodian” in order to promote products made in Cambodia to the city residents. Held in front of Wat Botum, about 30 entrepreneurs displayed artisan products, as well as books, ice, rice, “made in Cambodia” beverages. “Cambodians often say that local products are of bad quality, but in reality, it’s because they don’t know them, they never try them. Once they know them, they are satisfied with them, they will buy again,” En Buntha, an accountant, said.

Te Sophal, an employee of Angkor Coffee, noted that himself as well as numerous of his compatriots believe that anything produced in one’s own country is not good. “It’s to fight this misconception that I am participating in this fair,” he explained. Chuor Chheng, the owner of a SME which produces dried foods, said that he regrets that Cambodians are going in large number to fairs boasting foreign products, and that the crowd even creates traffic jams in front of these “World” exposition center, but when it comes to “Buy Cambodian” fair-type, the crowd is not coming. Protein Food, a company set up in 1998, succeeded in making itself a name on the local market, next to dried meat imported from China and neighboring countries. With $250 of profit per month, Chuor Chheng earns more than when he was a teacher or an employee of a private company. “It is my true pride to be on my own,” he boasted.

Displaying his interest in front a stand, Phene Phnaith said that he was already convinced about the good quality of Cambodian products. “When it is made locally, it is both beneficial for our economy and also for our wallet because it is cheaper!” he said.

Gathering the crowd in front of his stand, Em Sitha offered samples of palm beer. “We have too many orders from wholesalers in the province, and the production cannot catch up,” he confided. The beer which was created in 2001, has a good taste, however, the misconceptions on Cambodian products give them a hard time... With a cup of sample in his hand, a visitor obviously displayed his liking of this beverage which he just discovered. But when it comes to buying a bottle, at the same price as a regular beer, he hesitated: “I’m afraid to catch diarrhea tomorrow…” he said while walking to the next stand.

“A few years ago, Cambodians lack confidence in local products. Some still believe that we are not respecting the hygiene rules during the processing,” Kham Sophanary, an ice producer, explained. “But consumers like organic products, and this is the strong point of small Cambodian enterprises which followed this path.” The presence of several organic rice producers in the fair is the proof of such consumer taste.

Her hand filled with purchases, Pech Nhel was sold to the products displayed at the fair. “We must buy Khmer!” she stressed. “Even if the quality is somewhat lower than imported products, it is only by supporting local products that small Cambodian entrepreneurs will be able to invest and improve the quality of their products,” she said with true conviction.

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