Developing countries like Cambodia face significant challenges in accessing international markets, including underdeveloped food safety systems, limited workforce skills, insufficient technology adoption, and weak connections between academia and the private sector. This project tackles these challenges head-on by strengthening food safety systems, providing capacity building, encouraging innovation, building partnerships, and raising consumer awareness. By addressing these key issues, we are empowering Cambodia’s fishery processing industry to thrive in the global marketplace, creating new jobs and fostering sustainable growth.
Value Chain Upgrading through Innovative Approaches for Better Market Access
Enhancing Market Access through Innovative and Tailored Value Chain Upgrading Strategies
Overview
Approach
To overcome these challenges, the project implements targeted initiatives that strengthen the fisheries value chain and improve food safety standards. Key actions include conducting baseline assessments, establishing certification schemes, and enhancing investment support. Additionally, partnerships with government, academia, and the private sector drive research and innovation while promoting regional cooperation. Below are specific measures being taken to achieve these goals.
Baseline assessments on mapping of the fisheries value chains, identifying main actors, and constraints and opportunities for development.
a voluntary food safety certification scheme - embedding it into national systems and capacitating national auditors; harmonizing food safety stems with international norm and requirements.
Designing Investment Support Facility to streamline value chain investment funding and support and leverage additional funds from private sector and financial institutions.
Working with the government, universities, and the private sector through our Food Technology, Research and Innovation Platform to develop new products, technologies and ideas to improve fishery processing industry.
promoting gender equality and supporting women's economic roles in the fishery processing industry.
Impact
Key Indicators
SDGs:
UNIDO Priorities:
Thematic Area(s):
"By harmonizing with global market requirements, including those of the EU, the project will not only help boost competitiveness and sustainability but also underpin economic expansion, public health safeguards, and local job creation in the sector."
H.E. Igor Driesmans
EU Ambassador to Cambodia
Technology Used
Renewable energy for fish processing – use of solar dryer domes to dry fish.
Digital traceability for fish and fishery products.
Digitalized food safety data through the Food Safety Information Management System for national authorities.
Catalytic Outlook
By addressing the entire ecosystem — food safety, value chains, innovation, and human capital development—sectors can unlock new opportunities, achieve better market access, and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
Unique Solution Characteristics
A holistic approach to enhance the competitiveness of the sector involving food safety, value chain investment, R&D, skills development, awareness raising campaigns, leading to better market access and more jobs.
- European Union (EU)
Food safety legal framework, Training materials and SOPs for Laboratories, curriculum modules developed for universities, food safety training materials/checklists for enterprises, CQS requirements, checklists, etc., business plans for SMEs, training materials for gender mainstreaming, etc.
Related Links
- Project’s Quarterly Newsletters
- PR_Cambodia’s Fisheries Sector Set for Global Expansion: Key Towards Export Com…
- PR_UNIDO, FiA and CGCC launch innovative Investment Support Facility (ISF) sche…
- PR_Cambodia Quality Seal (CQS)_Recognizing Cambodia's enterprises for their imp…
- PR_Value Chain Investment Support (VCIS) to enhance Cambodian SMEs’ competitive…
- Story_How one fish-products business is helping others grow, with help from UNI…
- Story_Sisters in business_how a women fisheries processing group is helping bui…
- Story_Tipping the scales for gender equality_the inspiring journey of Sophorn S…
- Story_Empowering Cambodian fish processors with access to innovative solutions
- Story_Solar fish-drying tech has the potential to transform Cambodia’s fisheries
- Video_FTRIP enhancing the product quality through research and innovation
- Video_Testimonies about the project’s Value Chain Investment Support (VCIS)
- Video_Mondernizing Cambodia’s post-harvest fisheries
