Cambodia has appealed to Paper Tree Investment (Cambodia) Co Ltd to expand its eucalyptus-based pulp mill into paper production.

This would effectively make the facility the Kingdom’s first paper mill.

Paper Tree Investment is a subsidiary of Thai-based Paper Tree Holding Co Ltd. Established in 2013, the company is currently cultivating a total of 1,056ha of land in four different locations – two in Banteay Meanchey province, one in Battambang province and another one in Pailin province.

During a visit to one of its plantations, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon requested the company to expand its cultivation area and look into the possibility of engaging in contract farming arrangements to enhance the livelihoods of local communities.

At the same time, he also requested the company to consider converting its existing pulp mill into a pulp and paper mill.

“I would like to ask the company to look into the possibility of setting up a paper processing unit in Cambodia, rather than shipping raw materials to [paper mills in] Thailand,” he said.

Paper Tree Investment project director Tek Sopheak told The Post on Monday that the company is currently working to expand its eucalyptus tree plantations.http://https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/minister-asks-company-paper-mill