The Government of India through its Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Embassy of India in Phnom Penh in collaboration with Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India along with Ministry of Commerce of Kingdom of Cambodia organized the 5th India-CLMV Business Conclave in Phnom Penh on 21-22 May 2018. After four successful editions of the Business Conclave in India, this initiative was brought by the Government of India to be showcased in one of the CLMV countries – Cambodia to enhance greater participation from the region. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) was the institutional partner of the event.
The inaugural session of 5th India CLMV Conclave was presided over by H.E. Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister of Kingdom of Cambodia along with H.E. Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Government India, H.E. Pan Sorasak, Minister of Commerce, Cambodia, H.E. Dr. Than Myint, Minister of Commerce of Republic of the Union of Myanmar, H.E. Mr. Cao Quoc Hung, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Vietnam and Mr. Sirisanphanh Vorachith, Director General, Ministry of Commerce & Industry of Lao PDR. Ministerial and business delegations from India, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos consisting of about 400 delegates participated in the inaugural delegation.
H.E. Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce & Industry of Government of India was accompanied by a business delegation led by Dr. Naushad Forbes, President of the Confederation of Indian Industry and other prominent leaders of the Indian Industry.
In his inaugural address, DPM Hor Namhong appreciated India for organising the 5th India CLMV Business conclave in Cambodia and called for collaboration of CLMV countries and India on agriculture, health, tourism, education and connectivity for regional integration and creation of value chain.
In his special address, Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu emphasised upon strengthening India – CLMV business and trade relations. He highlighted the need for greater connectivity, promoting small and medium enterprises, harnessing the opportunities in service sector especially health care, tourism, transportation, and logistics. He stressed upon the need to promote productivity and value addition in agriculture to address livelihood and employment issues. He urged the Indian business leaders to make more investments in the CLMV region, considering it a gateway to the entire ASEAN to access the huge market of these countries. In order to institutionalize the bilateral business to business engagements of India with each of the CLMV countries, Minister Suresh Prabhu proposed setting up of an India Cambodia Chamber of commerce with the institutional partnership between CII and Cambodian Chamber of Commerce. He also proposed setting up similar bilateral business forums in Vietnam and Laos. He announced expanding funding support to India CLMV business conclave for having an India CLMV business exposition to be organised along with India CLMV Business Conclave for having an India –CLMV Exposition to be to be organised along with India – CLMV Business conclave from next year. He further announced that India will annually organise India - CLMV Reverse Buyer Seller Meet to further strengthen collaboration between traders and exporters of these countries.
At the end of inaugural session a report by CII on Enhancing LDCs Market Access into India - Case Studies of Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar and a Report by Exim Bank Enhancing India’s engagement in healthcare sector with CLMV countries were also released.
The inaugural session was followed by Plenary and country sessions which included business to business meetings. The Plenary Sessions during the two-day event focussed on sectors such as SME, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Plantation, Fisheries and related Industries, Healthcare, Education, Information Technology and Skill Development. The event provided excellent opportunity for developing better understanding of CLMV economies which have great potential for development and which offer more scope for enhancement of economic engagement with India.
The Valedictory session on the next day of India - CLMV Business Conclave was jointly presided over by H.E. Pan Sorasak, Minister of Commerce of Cambodia, H.E. Dr. Than Myint, Minister of Commerce of Myanmar, H.E. Cao Quoc Hung, Deputy Minister of Industry & Trade of Vietnam, H.E. Ms. Manika Jain, Ambassador of India to Cambodia and Mr. Rajneesh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. Ambassador Manika Jain delivered closing remarks and also extended vote of thanks to acknowledge various individuals and organizations who collectively made efforts for successful conduct of the event.
On the sidelines of the event, Minister Suresh Prabhu called on H.E. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia on 21 May 2018 where both sides resolved to further promote the business and trade relations. Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen expressed high appreciations for Government of India for organizing the India CLMV Business Conclave in Cambodia. Both sides discussed strategies to improve connectivity, promote tourism, boosting SMEs, facilitating start-ups and investments in creating value addition for agro-products especially rice.
H.E. Suresh Prabhu also held bilateral meetings with H.E. Pan Sorasak, Minister of Commerce, Cambodia, H.E. Dr. Than Myint, Minister of Commerce of Republic of the Union of Myanmar and H.E. Mr. Cao Quoc Hung, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Vietnam where bilateral issues were discussed to further promote mutual cooperation and trade.
The strong presence of Ministerial and business delegations during the two-day event and fruitful deliberations during various sessions reflected enthusiasm and energy among all stakeholders for re-engagement between India and CLMV countries.
