Prince Charitable Foundation, the charitable arm of Prince Holding Group ('Prince Group'), one of Cambodia's largest and fastest growing conglomerates, has distributed care packages to 500 families in Ong village, Prey Nob district, Cambodia. The village is close to the Ream City project, an 834-hectare development on reclaimed land near Sihanoukville International Airport that is set to transform the region. The gesture of goodwill occurred last week, and senior management from Canopy Sands Development, a member of Prince Group, used the opportunity to consult with local leaders to better understand the community's needs. The aid campaign at Ong Village is Prince Group's most recent environment, social, and governance (ESG) initiative.
Each care package included 25 kilogrammes of rice, a mat, a blanket, two pillows, a mosquito net, and a Khmer Krama (traditional scarves woven in the countryside). It will be the first of many efforts to help the local community, especially since Prince Group envisions residents playing an important role in the development of the coastal project. Ream City, when completed, is expected to house up to 130,000 people and will potentially include housing estates, themed shopping malls, schools, and hospitals, boosting the local economy.
At a time when rural Cambodians are facing significant economic challenges, Prince Group has focused on providing items to help residents with their daily needs. “We are serious about engaging with local communities and establishing a good relationship with them – they are key stakeholders for the Ream City project. Not only do we consider it our duty as a responsible corporate actor to provide assistance in these challenging times, we believe local residents will play an important role as part of our workforce due to the scale of the Ream City project,” said Mr. Khong Weng Fook, Managing Director of Canopy Sands Development. “Currently, about 70 locals are employed at the Ream City project. In time, we will look to impart the necessary skills through upskilling and other human empowerment efforts to further engage local residents for the project.”
Throughout the aid campaign, Prince Group management communicated with Mr. Sor Kakada, District Chief of Prey Nob, to better understand the needs of residents. They were informed that better healthcare facilities are required. Because Prey Nob is located outside of Sihanoukville, basic medical facilities are in short supply. As a result, Prince Group will look into the feasibility of establishing healthcare dispensaries in the community.
Ream City will create significant job opportunities for Cambodians and will contribute to the expansion of the Sihanoukville International Airport, which is expected to increase its capacity from 3.6 million to 10 million passengers by the end of the decade. Prince Group hopes that by distributing essential aid, a constructive dialogue can be established between local communities and developers, ensuring a productive long-term relationship.
Prince Group's ESG strategy is divided into three components: healthcare, education, and community engagement. Last year, the Group made a number of large-scale donations to aid in the fight against the pandemic and to flood victims in Cambodia. To date, Prince Charitable Foundation Organization has organised over 240 charitable events and donated funds and other materials totaling more than US$11 million to over 320,000 people. The Chairman of Prince Group, Neak Oknha Chen Zhi, has also personally donated US$3 million to assist Cambodia in purchasing 1 million COVID-19 vaccines.
