Cambodia

Our relationship with Cambodia

New Zealand has long-standing relations with Cambodia, with a small but steady trade relationship and connections though our work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and through the East Asia Summit. Cambodia is a popular tourist destination for New Zealanders.

Cambodia continues its steady economic and social development following the devastating period under the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. While Cambodia has enjoyed relative stability in recent years and has achieved good economic growth, the country remains one of Asia’s least developed countries. 

Defence and security 

From 1991 to 2005 New Zealand provided our then-largest peacekeeping force of over 100 military personnel to the UN peacekeeping mission in Cambodia (UNTAC). During this period New Zealand experts from the New Zealand Defence Force worked with the UN to help establish the Mine Clearance Training Unit. These efforts contributed to helping with the huge task of clearing millions of landmines and unexploded ordinances that are estimated to remain in Cambodia. 

Trade

Information about New Zealand's trade with Cambodia is available on the New Zealand Trade Dashboard(external link).

Free trade agreements with Cambodia

We have free trade agreements that include Cambodia:

• ASEAN-Australia-NZ FTA - AANZFTA
• Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

Aid

New Zealand will provide approximately NZ$32 million in official assistance to Cambodia over the three years 2021/22–2023/24, which represents one of our largest bilateral development programmes outside the Pacific. New Zealand’s development assistance to Cambodia is targeted around agriculture, renewable energy, governance, and knowledge and skills. New Zealand also supports mine clearance activities in Cambodia.

The New Zealand Aid Programme in Cambodia is part of our overall programme for the Mekong region, which is guided by our relationship with ASEAN. The main focus of our work in Cambodia is developing agriculture and developing human resources by providing scholarships and English language training. 

Find out more about our aid programme with ASEAN.

Embassies

• New Zealand is represented in Cambodia by the New Zealand Embassy.(external link)
• Cambodia is accredited to New Zealand by the Royal Embassy of Cambodia(external link).