First-ever Korean beef export to Cambodia achieved
Public Relations Division
2023.08.29
126
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Minister Chung Hwang-keun, MAFRA) held an event* on August 28th (Monday) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to commemorate the first-ever export of Korean beef to Cambodia. *Commemorative Event for the First-ever Korean Beef Export to Cambodia (18:00~21:00, Rosewood Hotel)
Minister Chung Hwang-keun met with the Cambodian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries on the day of the event and highlighted the excellence and safety of Korean beef while also discussing future agricultural cooperation between the two countries. The event was attended by over one hundred participants, including Cambodian government officials from the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Tourism, representatives from the distribution and restaurant industries, local media, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT). The attendees showed great interest in Hanwoo. Korean beef exports began with Hong Kong in 2015, followed by Cambodia, Macao, the United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia, with negotiations for quarantine protocols. However, until 2022, Hanwoo was primarily exported to Hong Kong. This year, after starting the first-ever halal certification for beef processing in March, Korean beef exports to Malaysia began in May. Finally, after eight years since the quarantine negotiations were completed in 2015, Korean beef is officially exported to Cambodia. The first-ever export of Korean beef to the Mekong region*, including Cambodia, is a significant milestone, as Cambodia is considered the largest export market for Japanese Wagyu beef. Furthermore, this development sets the stage for the potential expansion of Korean beef to other Southeast Asian countries. Korean beef exported to Cambodia will primarily be distributed through hotels and high-end restaurants. Given Cambodia's high anticipated economic growth rate and its status as one of the ASEAN countries, it is expected that the volume of beef exports will continue to grow. *Mekong River Basin 5 countries: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam Lee Joon-ho, CEO of Gibon Co., a specialized Korean beef exporter, expressed, "In the next five years, we plan to promote Korean beef by facilitating the exchange of processing experts between the two countries and establishing local processing facilities to enable the export of 2,000 tons, worth 100 million dollars, of Korean beef. Additionally, we intend to strengthen our efforts in promoting Korean beef by retaining its unique cuts and names in the local market." Furthermore, one of the Korean beef importing companies in Cambodia is affiliated with one of the four major conglomerates in Cambodia, World Bridge. They operate the largest logistics center, handling 70% of local logistics, and are expected to play a significant role in expanding Korean beef consumption. With this contract signing as a milestone, the volume of Korean beef exports is expected to increase significantly, from last year's 44 tons to over 1,000 tons (approximately 3,000 cattle) annually, starting in the year after next. Minister Chung Hwang-keun of MAFRA stated, "Since May this year, Korean beef exports have expanded to Cambodia following Malaysia." He added, "As K-Food business representatives, we will do our best so that Korean beef, riding the Hallyu wave, can spread worldwide to promote the excellence of our agricultural and food products and contribute to the stable management of Korean beef farms."