Cambodia’s manufacturing industry has traditionally centered around garments and footwear, mainly producing for international brands and exporting to global markets. However, in recent years, significant investments from multinational corporations have led to an industrial upgrade. As global supply chains undergo reorganization, sectors such as electronic components, bicycles and automotive parts have started establishing manufacturing facilities in regions like Phnom Penh.

To empower and support Taiwanese companies in expanding into New Southbound markets, the International Trade Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs organized a Green Low-Carbon Product Business Development Delegation from September 2 to September 6 to explore business opportunities in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The delegation visited major industrial zones and construction developers, including the ISI Steel Group, Goldfame Group, the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), and the Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone. The team, which included 10 Taiwanese companies such as Everlight Intelligent Technology and Zhen Jun Environmental Technology, aimed to establish bilateral partnerships and explore how Taiwanese technology can be applied in Cambodia's special economic zones and large-scale construction projects, fostering long-term collaboration between Taiwanese businesses and local economic zones and developers.

This collaboration specifically targets the development of the ISI Group’s upcoming Golden Port Special Economic Zone (Golden Port SEZ), which will be the third special economic zone developed by ISI to date. The Taiwanese team will assist in planning essential water supply and drainage infrastructure, integrating ESG principles and international standards to design a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system, which is expected to attract more international companies to establish a presence in the SEZ. Additionally, addressing Cambodia’s growing demand for energy-efficient building solutions, this partnership will create more business opportunities. Taiwan can offer high-efficiency energy-saving equipment and green building materials, helping local developers incorporate advanced energy-saving technologies in new constructions. For instance, the Goldfame Group’s Urban Gold development project in central Phnom Penh aims to construct the tallest building in Southeast Asia. Given that Cambodia has the highest electricity costs in the region, energy-saving measures are especially critical. The Goldfame Group hopes to leverage Taiwan’s expertise by introducing energy storage elevators, smart energy-saving lighting and energy-efficient insulation films, creating a win-win scenario through energy efficiency and cost reduction.

This initiative will continue to connect Taiwan’s high-quality green low-carbon product companies and technical experts from institutions like the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) with representatives from Cambodia’s special economic zones to discuss collaboration plans. The Taiwanese team will customize system solutions tailored to the specific needs of different industries, helping Cambodia achieve rapid development while aligning with international environmental trends and fulfilling ESG goals. This partnership is also envisaged to attract the supply chains of global brands to set up factories, establishing a mutually beneficial long-term cooperation model.