The Sousdey Indonesia exhibition was officially opened on September 13, 2024, by the Ambassador of Indonesia to Cambodia, H.E. Santo Darmosumarto, and Cambodian Minister of Commerce, H.E. Cham Nimul.
The two-day event, held at the Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) in Phnom Penh, is the largest Indonesian solo exhibition ever held in Cambodia, marking a new chapter in the long-standing relations between the two Southeast Asian countries.
‘Sousdey Indonesia’ is a rebranding of the Indonesian Trade and Tourism Promotion (ITTP), which was previously held 14 times since 2006. According to an Indonesian Embassy press release, the new branding aligns with the celebration of the 65th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations and reflects Indonesia’s desire to further connect with the Cambodian people.
“Today's event boasts more than 100 booths, and displaying products and services will indeed create a synergy of our bilateral trade and generate added value to Cambodia-Indonesia corporation through tourism, cultural exchanges and investment,” said H.E. Cham Nimul, while delivering her opening remarks.
I am therefore deeply optimistic that today's event will serve as a springboard to [Cambodia-Indonesia] engagement, particularly providing a platform for our private sectors to explore vast potential and opportunities to collaborate and forge new trade and investment partnerships.
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Growing Trade Relations Between Cambodia And Indonesia
During the opening ceremony, Ambassador Santo expressed Indonesia's commitment to strengthening its relationship with Cambodia. He highlighted how growing bilateral economic cooperation has led to Indonesia becoming Cambodia's sixth-largest trading partner. Bilateral trade between the two countries surpassed USD 1.1 billion for the first time in 2023, and in the first half of 2024 has already amounted to USD 579.4 million.
“As we reach the important milestone of the 65th anniversary of Indonesia-Cambodia diplomatic relations, we envision ‘Sousdey Indonesia’ as a celebration of our achievements and a platform to launch into a journey of countless opportunities,” said Ambassador Santo.
Additionally, he shared that there are currently around 100,000 Indonesians living in Cambodia, the largest number ever recorded.
Watch a snippet of Ambassador Santo's speech:
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“Indonesia and Cambodia have a long standing historical connection, and it is essential to sustain this foundation through initiatives across multiple sectors," said the Ambassador.
He further added:
The economic advancements in Cambodia in recent years present a significant opportunity for both nations to foster collaboration. Indonesia can be a choice for Cambodia to access high quality products and enhance its evolving infrastructure and industrial sector. Moreover, we hope that stronger trade ties will be followed by more interest in investing in the Cambodian economy. This potential can be thoroughly explored when there is a robust mutual understanding between the people of the two countries.
Sousdey Indonesia 2024 Expo Highlights
This year’s event is the largest ever Indonesian solo exhibition in Cambodia, featuring over 100 booths, compared to the 40 from 2023. Around two-thirds of the exhibitors are Indonesian-based companies, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), with the remainder being Cambodian importers of Indonesian products. They represent a variety of industries, including food and beverage (F&B), fashion and handicrafts, automotive, furniture and houseware, pharmaceuticals, logistics and education.
The expo's theme in 2024, ‘Let’s Explore and Enjoy’, emphasises Sousdey Indonesia’s attraction beyond being just a trade show. Attendees can experience a variety of activities, including tourism promotion, cultural performances, games and competition, as well as a culinary festival. There will also be an education forum and a fashion show, featuring traditional clothing on sale at the exhibition.
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Supported by partners such as IndoCham, Smart Axiata, Prince Bank, and Phillip Bank, Sousdey Indonesia will also feature live performances by Khmer singers Sai and Son Sreynon. Attendees have a chance to win exciting prizes, including electric motorbikes and round-trip tickets between Phnom Penh and Jakarta.
The first day of the exhibition also featured a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indonesian snack manufacturer Sari Murni Group, and Cambodian F&B importer and exporter, Meychu Star F&B, which was presided over by the Indonesian ambassador.
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Parts of this article were sourced from a supplied press release.