Rwanda and Cambodia have signed three cooperation agreements covering investment promotion, tourism and air transport, as the two countries seek to expand economic ties and create new opportunities for businesses in both markets.
The agreements were exchanged on Friday, November 13, at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, in the presence of President Paul Kagame and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, following bilateral talks during Kagame’s state visit to the Southeast Asian country.
The first agreement is a memorandum of understanding between the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and Cambodia’s Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), establishing a framework for cooperation in investment promotion.
A second memorandum provides for cooperation in tourism, while the third is an Air Services Agreement intended to establish a framework for air transport cooperation between the two countries.
The agreements are expected to strengthen institutional links and encourage greater engagement between the private sectors of Rwanda and Cambodia. However, the air services agreement does not in itself mean that direct flights between Kigali and Phnom Penh have been introduced.
During their meeting, Kagame and Hun Manet discussed ways to expand trade, investment and tourism, as well as cooperation in addressing transnational crime, including technology-based scams.
The two leaders also discussed how their countries could use their respective positions to improve access to regional markets. Rwanda could serve as an entry point for Cambodian products seeking access to African markets, while Cambodia could provide Rwandan businesses with a gateway to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and wider Asian markets.
Kagame praised Cambodia’s progress in rebuilding its economy and society after the Khmer Rouge period, noting that Rwanda had also experienced a painful chapter in its history. He said the visit and the two countries’ participation in the Francophonie Summit offered an opportunity to take bilateral relations to a higher level.
Hun Manet welcomed the Rwandan delegation and said the visit would contribute to strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
The latest agreements build on earlier efforts to expand diplomatic engagement. During a visit to Rwanda in November 2025, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn held talks with Rwandan officials, with the two sides signing arrangements for regular consultations between their foreign ministries and facilitating travel for holders of diplomatic and official passports.
Kagame also held separate engagements with Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen and National Assembly President Khuon Sudary. Discussions with Sudary included parliamentary cooperation, gender equality and women’s representation in leadership.
The visit comes as Cambodia prepares to host the 20th Summit of the International Organisation of La Francophonie in Phnom Penh on November 15 and
