PhnomPenhPost-Feb 13, 2026
Cambodia is being encouraged to accelerate trade diversification and strengthen domestic production after ongoing border tensions with Thailand exposed the country’s heavy reliance on Thai imports and supply chains, business leaders and economists warned, during a private-sector briefing in Phnom Penh. The European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (EuroCham) and UNICEF convened business leaders, logistics experts and humanitarian partners for a February 10 breakfast discussion examining the economic and social fallout of the border crisis. Participants warned that prolonged disruptions could reshape trade patterns while heightening risks for vulnerable communities along the border. Opening the session, UNICEF representative in Cambodia Will Parks stressed that economic shocks and humanitarian pressures are increasingly interconnected, particularly for children and families displaced by the tensions. “We firmly believe that the challenges faced by children and youth cannot be addressed without the active engagement of the private sector,” Parks said, noting that every child deserves access to essential services, including safe water, healthcare and inclusive education. Business representatives described early signs of strain across several sectors, including declining tourism activity, rerouted supply chains, rising logistics costs and labor shortages linked to returning migrant workers. Martin Brisson, EuroCham executive director, said the situation should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers and businesses alike. Read more at: https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/cambodia-urged-to-diversify-trade-as-border-tensions-expose-reliance-on-thai-market
