Confirel Gains International Recognition in Vienna

In June, Confirel achieved significant recognition on the international stage with two important engagements in Vienna, Austria.

First, Confirel was honored to receive the Newcomer Award 2025 at Free From Specialty, Europe's leading expo for specialty and allergen-free foods. The award recognizes our commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation in agricultural products.

The expo provided an excellent platform to showcase Cambodia's agricultural capabilities to European buyers and distributors. Visitors showed strong interest in our certified products and sustainable production methods, reinforcing the growing global demand for traceable, high-quality specialty foods. During the award ceremony, our representative shared Dr. Hay's memoir with expo organizers, highlighting the foundational vision that has guided Confirel's development over more than two decades.

Following the expo, Confirel's team met with partners at UNIDO headquarters to review progress on ongoing collaboration initiatives. The discussions focused on how our agricultural transformation model has evolved and its potential application in other developing country contexts.

UNIDO partners expressed particular interest in our systematic approach to overcoming traditional barriers in agricultural development, including certification costs, access to finance, climate adaptation, market intelligence, and technology integration.

These Vienna engagements reflect a broader trend in how international partners view Confirel's work. Development organizations and commercial partners are increasingly studying our methodologies rather than simply offering support, indicating recognition of our expertise and proven results.

The shift represents an important milestone - from being a recipient of development assistance to being recognized as a source of innovative solutions that others can learn from and adapt.

The partnerships and insights gained in Vienna will inform several new initiatives being planned for implementation in the coming months. These developments build on our core mission of advancing Cambodia's agricultural sector while maintaining our commitment to sustainable, community-centered growth.

Confirel continues to demonstrate that developing country companies can lead global innovation in sustainable agriculture and rural development.