Cambodia hosts 1st int'l pharmaceutical expo

Cambodia organized the first international exhibition on the pharmaceutical and medical industry on Monday in a bid to boost the development of this fledgling sector, officials said.

The two-day event brought together 50 healthcare suppliers, manufacturers, and service providers from 15 countries and regions, including Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.

Heng Bunkiet, a senior health official, said there are 297 companies importing and distributing healthcare and pharmaceutical products in Cambodia.

"The expo provides more business and trade opportunities for healthcare-related enterprises and creates a platform for domestic and international enterprises to explore business cooperation," said the director of the Department of Drug and Food under the country's health ministry.

A statement released at the opening of the event estimated that Cambodia's pharmaceutical market is valued at 210 million U.S. dollars per year.

Commerce Ministry Secretary of State Chhuon Dara appealed to foreign investors to consider investing in Cambodia, saying that the country has received trade preferences from many countries which allow the exports of Cambodian products to those countries duty-free and quota-free.

"Building factories in Cambodia, investors can make and export their products to many countries such as European countries, the United States, and China duty-free and quota-free," he said. Endi