As part of its special program for promoting public–private partnerships to enhance food value chains in Asian economies, the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) held a National Conference on Advanced Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) in Cambodia, 17–18 May in Phnom Penh.

The two-day conference was organized in collaboration with National Productivity Centre of Cambodia (NPCC) with a special grant from the Government of Japan. Attended by over 100 participants, the conference enhanced the awareness of key stakeholders in Cambodian agribusiness of the importance of advanced FSMS to improve productivity and competitiveness.

Senior Minister of Ministry of Industry and Handicraft H.E. Cham Prasidh delivering a message during the inaugural session of the National Conference on Advanced FSMS in Cambodia, 17 May 2018.

The APO carried out national demonstration company projects in Cambodia from October 2016 to May 2018 to improve food safety and quality standards while strengthening the FSMS training and consulting capacities of the NPCC, with an emphasis on ISO 22000 and FSSC22000 of the Global Food Safety Initiative. With the completion of the demonstration company projects, it is important to share the experiences, lessons, and insights gained by the demonstration companies and NPCC staff who guided them with others in the food industry to maximize the multiplier effects throughout the country.

In welcoming participants, H.E. Cham Prasidh, Senior Minister, Minister of Ministry of Industry and Handicraft, appreciated the APO’s support for enhanced food quality and safety. APO Secretariat Agriculture Department Program Officer Mitsuo Nakamura referred to the remarkable progress of the demonstration companies in improving their FSMS and stressed that their achievements should be shared among all stakeholders in Cambodia.

Two international experts, Managing Director Yong Kok Seng of QMC Resource Centre Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia, and Advisor Darunee Edwards of the International Union of Food Science and Technology, Thailand, facilitated the conference proceedings. Three Cambodian resource persons and representatives of the four demonstration companies also attended to share their insights on how FSMS contribute to higher productivity.