In 2021, lockdowns and market closures in Phnom Penh—imposed due to the pandemic—dealt a heavy blow to Cambodia’s economy. Life became particularly arduous for vulnerable groups struggling at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder, such as elderly individuals who hauled goods using traditional bicycles, citizens who sorted waste at landfill sites, and street vendors selling sun-dried small clams.
In response, the Chamber of Commerce organized teams to distribute free food at various locations where these individuals congregated. Throughout 2021, the Chamber conducted nearly 20 such distribution drives, providing a total of 5 tons of rice and over 16,000 cartons of noodles.
