On April 29, 2024, Oknha Pech Bolen, President of the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Cambodia, joined as a panelist at the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) 2025 Forum, organized by the Ministry of Commerce in collaboration with the Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) Program. The session focused on “How Can Businesses Utilise the AANZFTA Upgrade for Trade in Services, Investment, and Electronic Commerce?”

Oknha Bolen emphasized the need for Cambodian entrepreneurs—especially service exporters—to enhance service quality and competitiveness to access markets like Australia and New Zealand. He also highlighted the importance of formal partnerships, such as MOUs or MOAs, between local and international businesses to facilitate smoother trade in goods and services.

The forum aimed to raise awareness of the AANZFTA upgrade and provide a platform for SMEs to learn, exchange experiences, and explore new export opportunities across ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand.