As a part of the Export Support Program, EuroCham established a series of "Exporter Stories" interviews where we seek to understand the story behind the company like how it started, how the idea was generated, and the challenges the company had to overcome to begin its export journey, and the lessons they would like to pass on to other companies hoping to export.


Exporter Story 1: Colorblind 
Founded in 2011, by Jean-Benoit Lasselin, Colorblind believes that people should all be well-dressed in order to answer to the formality of every country around the world. Colorblind understands your lifestyle and what you exactly need as well as answers to your need by providing “tailor-made elegance”. Currently exporting to many countries internationally. Jean-Benoit’s advice for those looking to export is that you should find a partner in the buying country who is aware of the market and the exact requirements you need in order to export successfully. He also goes to the countries that he wants to export to himself to experience the market and connect personally with potential buyers. For him, the key to exporting is to make sure that no one else is doing what you do and to make it high-end. Moreover, avoid copying other companies and establish your company’s core values. One of the things that Jean-Benoit mentioned too is that with a fast-growing workforce, Cambodia is a great destination to export from.

Check out the interview on EuroCham Youtube Channel below: 


Exporter Story 2: Khmer Green Charcoal 
Established in 2008 with 3 main goals in mind: environmental preservation, social impacts, and improving the livelihood of Cambodian locals. They have been working with underprivileged families to help them have income streams and help the children of the workers to attend school. Their method in production is to minimise machinery usage in order to allow space for marginalised and low-income families to work and earn a living. Beginning to export, Khmer Green Charcoal found it hard to negotiate with potential buyers as well as engage with the right logistic companies. Their advice to those looking to export is to make sure the quality of your products is up to the standard of the exporting company by applying for relevant certifications like ISO, GMP etc. as international buyers value these certificates.

Check out the interview on EuroCham Youtube Channel below: 


Exporter Story 3: Keimeas
Founded in 2016, Keimeas has helped more than 600 women in Cambodia, most of which are weavers in rural areas. With a strong aspiration to display Cambodian products on the international stage, Ms Simheang, the founder of Keimeas has worked really hard in exporting her products internationally. For Keimeas, the logistic fee is the most challenging part of exporting their products while standard requirements are not that difficult for them to meet. Ms. Simheang also advised that studying the market in order to penetrate the right one is the most crucial part of beginning to export. She also added that in order to make your products desirable for the international market, you need to make sure the price is competitive compared to other products in the same sector.

Check out the interview on EuroCham Youtube Channel below: 


Exporter Story 4: Z.O Imporrt & Export Co., Ltd
Keeping sustainability at heart, Z.O Import & Export has been producing certified eco-friendly products to sell domestically and internationally. Currently exporting to Germany themselves as well as supporting a wonderful project called Sindora Garden of Pepper exporting their products into the European markets too. Mr. Jeff, the founder of Z.O import & export finds the amount of paperwork overwhelming, and finding the right buyer is somewhat challenging as a newcomer. Nevertheless, Z.O import & export advises companies that are looking to export their products into the international markets to do thorough investigations in terms of the partner's background and the procedures of completing any paperwork.

Check out the interview on EuroCham Youtube Channel below: 


Exporter Story 5: Kingdom of WOW (KOW) Lifestyle Manufacturing Co. Ltd
Godie, the founder of Kingdom of Wow sat down with us to share about her inspiring journey of producing shoes and selling them internationally. Moving from Shanghai, Cambodia captured the heart of Godie the same way her products did the people of Cambodia. Her initial step into the business without the knowledge of the manufacturing sector has in fact opened her eyes more and the business is now performing really well selling worldwide. She advised the companies looking to export to start doing the business they are passionate about and not afraid to get started even if you have to learn along the way.

Check out the interview on EuroCham Youtube Channel below: 


Exporter Story 6: Seekers Independent Spirits Co., Ltd.
Marco came to Cambodia to create a spirit brand that embedded Mekong's taste and artistic design. Like any other exporter, he faces similar challenges in his exporting journey such as finding the right logistic company to help get his products to another market and getting through numerous paperwork. However, finding the right partner will definitely help smoothen the entire exporting process. His advice to those looking to export is to start the business no matter how small you think the business is.

Check out the interview on EuroCham Youtube Channel below: 


Exporter Story 7: Confirel
Confirel is committed to preserving sugar palm trees and manufacturing high-quality and world-widely recognized healthy products. It is dedicated to promoting authentic Khmer products and values while improving the economical activities of rural farmers. Mr. Piseth, Confirel's commercial director, sat down with us to tell us more about Confirel. Mr. Piseth mentioned that one of the most challenging hurdles that his company had to overcome was the process of applying for organic certification. However, the right people guiding you, like a good freight forwarder, will help cut the cost of logistics and lessen the complication of the administration process. Mr. Piseth also emphasised that ensuring the quality of your product will be the most important thing in exporting your products.

Check out the interview on EuroCham Youtube Channel below: 


Exporter Story 8: Kirirom Food Production
Mr. Holy introduced us to Kirirom Food Production and many of their products that are sold in the country and internationally. Kirirom not only produces great local products, their main purpose is to also build up the livelihood of Cambodian people in rural communities. Holy also shared that different countries that they export to have different difficulties in terms of the procedures and legal aspects. He shared that the price fluctuation of the product in the market has also posed a challenge for his company. His advice to the companies looking to export is to be mindful of the competition in the market and find the right partner for the business.

Check out the interview on EuroCham Youtube Channel below:


Exporter Story 9: Husk Ventures Cambodia
Husk Ventures Cambodia has their pride in their organic biochar, carbon-based fertilisers, and natural pesticides. Merce sat down with us to allow us to get to know Husk Ventures Cambodia and their products more. After 4 years in the Cambodian market, Husk Ventures Cambodia believes that they are ready to export their incredible products into the Asian markets. Merce told us that the company is currently in the process of applying for organic certification for their products in order to illustrate the quality of the products to attract the right consumers. Merce thinks that in order to successfully export your products, you need to do a lot of market research to access the market and not be afraid to start no matter how small.

Check out the interview on EuroCham Youtube Channel below:


Exporter Story 10: Betamore
Starting as a small rice merchant, Mr. Sovann built a rice empire known as Betamore. Like many other exporters, Sovann faces similar challenges compared to most of the rice exporters such as the complicated paperwork process, finding the right buyer for his type of rice, and doing marketing to introduce the rice to the international markets. His advice to those looking to export is to always make sure that the products are of their best quality especially compared to other countries within the region. Moreover, finding a good freight forwarder can also help with a lot of administrative tasks that a new exporter might face.

Check out the interview on EuroCham Youtube Channel below:


Exporter Story 11: Kamya AgriTrade
Andreas has been exporting his pepper to countries in Europe with the vision of creating a sustainable business landscape while introducing premium Cambodian products to the international stage. He encourages business owners to start small and build up the business along the way. Moreover, finding a good partner is also crucial in doing business. With his years of experience in exporting, Andreas finds that getting your products up to the right standard will definitely expand the brand's popularity as well as capture consumers' loyalty. Cambodian pepper has a premium quality that captures the hearts of many nations around the world and Andreas believes that if you just follow the right procedures, getting your products to the required standards of the buyers and maintaining the quality of your products will help smoothen your exporting process.

Check out the interview on EuroCham Youtube Channel below:


Exporter Story 12: YekoWave
As a part of the Export Support Program, EuroCham established a series of "Exporter Stories" interviews where we seek to understand the story behind the company like how it started, how the idea was generated, and the challenges the company had to overcome to begin its export journey, and the lessons they would like to pass on to other companies hoping to export.

Check out the interview on EuroCham Youtube Channel below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKWrxoBxKW4


Exporter Story 13: Sindora Garden of Pepper
Growing, watering, fertilizing, harvesting, and processing are made in a very artisanal way by our small team, respecting the long tradition and the strict specifications of the Kampot Pepper Promotion Association. At Sindora garden of pepper great attention is given to the highest quality of our products but also to the beauty of the place. Mr. Stephane Dewant, the founder of Sindora Garden of Pepper does not think that the process of exporting is that difficult. He thinks that the most complicated process is to find the right buyers. Sindora garden of pepper has been recognised as the quality artisan for Cambodian peppers. He also mentioned that Phytosanitary certification is one of the most important certifications for agriculture products and could be obtained through the ministry of agriculture and fisheries in Cambodia. Currently, Sindora garden of pepper is exporting to countries in Europe and is trying to expand their exports into other countries too.

Check out the interview on EuroCham Youtube Channel below:


Exporter Story 14: Agri House 
AgriHouse is a Khmer-led & Khmer-owned start-up bringing secondary income sources to vulnerable communities through technology-controlled insect farming. Ms. Sokneang sat down with us to share about her company's challenges with export. AgriHouse is still new to export, but they have plenty of experience in this field. Their biggest challenge would be the finances to support the required certifications. With a mission of securing the food protein source, AgriHouse has made a name for itself by creating protein powder out of cricket. Currently, AgriHouse is working hard on renovating their facilities to best serve their export journey with optimum quality of products.

Check out the interview on EuroCham Youtube Channel below:


Exporter Story 15: Fairweave
Fairweave aims to create opportunities for Cambodian women to become socially, politically, and economically independent, and to live without fear, violence, and exploitation. This is achieved by providing an alternative means of employment, making handicrafts sold for profit. The women at Fairweave produce weaving and crafts, such as scarves, throws, and cushions, which are then sold to generate profits. They use local materials, natural dyes, and traditional methods. Fairweave provides opportunities to women from rural communities, training them in crafting design and techniques, small business management, and Fairtrade practices. Chomnab is working to empower local women with fair and safe working environments and bring financial self-sufficiency.

Check out the interview on EuroCham Youtube Channel below: