Prince Charitable Foundation, a charitable arm of Cambodia's Prince Holding Group ('Prince Group'), has distributed care packages to 500 families in Ong village, Prey Nob district. The village is close to the Ream City Cambodia project, an 834-hectare reclaimed land development near the Sihanoukville International Airport that has the potential to transform the region. Last week, senior management from Canopy Sands Development, a Prince Group company, made the gesture of goodwill, as well as consulting local leaders to better understand the community's needs. Prince Group's latest environment, social, and governance (ESG) initiative is an aid campaign in Ong Village. Learn more
One mat, one blanket, two pillows, one mosquito net, and one Khmer Krama were included in each care package (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 a key role in the coastal project's development. Ream City, once completed, is expected to house up to 130,000 people and will likely 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 assist 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, Prey Nob District Chief, to better understand residents' needs. They were told that better healthcare facilities are required. Prey Nob is located outside of Sihanoukville, so basic medical services are limited. As a result, Prince Group will look into the possibility of opening healthcare dispensaries in the area.
Ream City will create significant job opportunities for Cambodians and support the expansion of the Sihanoukville International Airport, which is expected to grow 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, resulting in a fruitful long-term relationship.
The ESG strategy of Prince Group focuses on three areas: healthcare, education, and community engagement. Last year, the Group made several large donations to aid in the pandemic's fight and to assist flood victims in Cambodia. Prince Charitable Foundation Organization has organised over 240 charitable events and donated funds and other materials totaling over US$11 million to benefit over 320,000 people. The Chairman of Prince Group, Neak Oknha Chen Zhi, has also donated US$3 million to help Cambodia purchase 1 million COVID-19 vaccines.
