Wing Bank Supports MAFF’s 1st Aquaculture Exhibition

Wing Bank supports the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) in organizing Cambodia’s first-ever Aquaculture Exhibition, aimed at promoting sustainable farming practices.

Wing Bank continues its support for MAFF by sponsoring the 1st Aquaculture Exhibition, which serves as a platform for thousands of aquaculture enthusiasts to raise awareness about the quality of farmed fish while highlighting the progress and development of Cambodia’s aquaculture sector.

Over 100 companies participated, including suppliers, buyers, retailers, wholesalers, and food processing factories. The event also featured inspiring success stories from aquaculture entrepreneurs who have transformed family businesses into thriving ventures, achieving both local support and international export standards. Attendees engaged in various activities, including presentations on technical aquaculture farming, food safety, and marketing. Panel discussions focused on National Good Aquaculture Practices (GAQP) and the Cambodia Quality Seal (CQS), fostering dialogue on challenges and opportunities within the aquaculture sector.

Mr. Bunthe Hor, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Wing Bank, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “As the bank for every Cambodian, we are inspired by initiatives that positively impact our community. This event serves as a crucial platform for collaboration and innovation within the aquaculture sector, benefiting both local communities and the economy as a whole. Our support for MAFF not only raises awareness about aquaculture but also plays a vital role in advancing Cambodia’s National Strategic Plan for Aquaculture Development (NSPAD) 2016-2030.”

According to the Cambodia Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Rural Development Sector Assessment, Strategy, and Road Map Report (ADB, 2021), fish provide over 80% of the protein in the national diet, with per capita annual consumption exceeding 63 kilograms. By 2022, Cambodia had exported nearly 3,000 tonnes of fresh and processed fishery products, increasing to more than 3,500 tonnes by 2023 to neighboring countries, as noted by His Excellency Dith Tina, Minister of MAFF during the 19th National Fisheries Day in Kampong Thom province.

Mr. Bunthe Hor added, “We are grateful to MAFF for allowing us to be a consistent partner. In addition to our ongoing support for initiatives like the Aquaculture Exhibition and the Green Field and Food Fair, we are committed to addressing financing challenges in the agriculture sector by providing affordable loans to agricultural businesses. This effort helps enhance productivity and meet the growing demands of the aquaculture industry.”

Beyond supporting MAFF, Wing Bank also introduces its ecosystem, Wingagri, a digital platform that streamlines agricultural supply chain management and provides advanced financing solutions. This platform could be a potential solution that allows aquaculture stakeholders to meet the increasing demand for fish for domestic consumption and encourages investment in Cambodia’s aquaculture sector, while already showcasing many successful stories among agricultural cooperatives, buyers, input suppliers, and farmers.

According to local news, Cambodia has a total of 61,727 aquaculture households, employing 106,522 people in the industry. In 2023, Cambodia achieved a total of 314,000 tonnes of freshwater and marine aquaculture.