Phnom Penh, 23 January 2025 — Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly, met Thursday with Women’s Business Council of the Philippines Chairperson and President Ms. Rosemarie. P.  Rafael.

The National Assembly President said Ms. Rafael’s visit to Cambodia as head of a Philippine businesswomens’ delegation contributed to strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Samdech Rathsaphea Thipadei said the private sector played an increasingly crucial role in cementing bilateral ties.

“We need to explore more cooperation and partnership opportunities, connecting entrepreneurs of the two countries,” she said.

“We need to further promote experience and knowledge exchanges between women entrepreneurs of the two countries.

“Promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment are critical to sustainable and inclusive growth.”

The National Assembly President stressed the importance of “knowledge and experience sharing” as well as “people-to-people ties” and “gender equality”.

Ms. Rafael praised Cambodia’s development, and expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and meaningful dialogue.

“There are great potentials to explore and connect our two economies,” she said. “Cambodia offers abundant business and investment opportunities in a wide range of sectors such as technology, AI, tourism, export processing zones, Manufacturing, human capital development, and healthcare.”

Ms. Rafael said ASEAN member countries needed to optimize opportunities to further connect and integrate.

“Women make things happen,” she said, adding that the Business Council’s visit to Cambodia marked a “new beginning to grow more in terms of business cooperation and connection.”

The National Assembly President said: “We fully support the enhancement of business-to-business partnerships. Our bilateral ties contribute to the ASEAN community. We need to see more concrete results.”

She also said that Cambodian women entrepreneurs played a ”critical” role in socio-economic development and encouraged the Philippines to import more rice from Cambodia.
 
“Cambodia is fully committed to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment,” she said.

The meeting at the National Assembly Palace on Thursday came on the second day of a two-day visit to Cambodia by the Philippine delegation of more than 30 businesswomen spanning multiple industries.