The Royal Group
The Royal Group, based in Phnom Penh, is Cambodia's largest diversified conglomerate and holding company with investments in various industries in the country including telecommunication, media, banking, insurance, resorts, education, property, trading and agriculture.[1]
Type | Conglomerate (company) |
---|---|
Founded | 1991 |
Founder | Neak Oknha Kith Meng |
Headquarters | Phnom Penh, Cambodia |
Website | www |
History
Royal Cambodia Co Ltd was established as a general trading company operating out of Australia in 1989. It was incorporated in Cambodia in 1990. In the nineties, the company created strong links with the UNTAC. It became the sole distributor of Canon products and Bell Helicopter in Cambodia, and obtained the distribution of Motorola products in the country. MobiTel (mobile) and TeleSUFR (broadband internet) are established.[2]
Since 2000, the Royal Group became the sole distributor of Samsung and Siemens products in Cambodia. The Cambodian Broadcasting Corporation is launched, with CTN as its main brand. ANZ Royal Bank was established through a partnership with Australia and New Zealand Banking Group. The Royal Group got exclusive rights for HBO, Cinemax and the Disney Channels in Cambodia. A joint venture with QSR Brands, which operates KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants all across Asia, brought the first international fastfood chain to Cambodia. Infinity Insurance was established.[2]
In 2008, the Royal Group was granted à 99-year concession to develop Koh Rong island. In 2016, the local authorities ordered to stop the construction of the port because the Royal Group did not have the proper permits to operate.[3] In January 2016, the same happened with a jetty at O'Tres Beach in Koh Rong.[4]
Investment
- Telecommunications and information technologies: CamGSM (Cambodia’s leading mobile telecommunications network),[5] NETi Solutions (I.T. software and business consulting services), MobiTel (formerly a joint venture between The Royal Group and Millicom International Cellular, is now wholly owned by The Royal Group following an acquisition in November 2009), Royal Telecam International (second licensed international gateway in the Kingdom, carrying the majority of all international voice traffic, also a former joint venture with Millicom, now wholly owned by the Royal Group), TeleSURF (Cambodia's first broadband service), Ezecom (Internet provider)
- Finance: Infinity Financial Solutions (Cambodian insurance provider backed by Swiss Re), ANZ Royal Bank, Royal Financial Consultancy (RFC, Forex-based consultancy), Camlife (life insurance)[6]
- Education: Southbridge International School Cambodia
- Automotive: Premium Auto Imports Co. Ltd. (exclusive importer of BMW cars), Royal Cambodia Limousine Services (limousine services)
- Media: Cambodian Broadcasting Corporation (Cambodia's largest television network),[7] CEPCO (Cambodian TV distributor with exclusive rights to HBO, Cinemax and the Disney Channels), Bamboo Media (Cambodian media and advertising agency), BrandSolutions (advertising, media and marketing services agency), Rock Production (media production house with a recording studio), Rock Entertainment Centre (largest entertainment center in Phnom Penh), One TV[8]
- Hotels and resorts: Royal Park Resort (Siem Reap), Titan King Casino & Resort, Hotel Cambodiana (Phnom Penh's waterfront)
- Property development: Royal Towe (36 floors, 65,000 m²), Koh Rong Island Resort (ecologically sustainable Cambodian island resort),[9] Northbridge Communities, Embassy Place (serviced apartments)
- Transports: Royal Railway (30-year concession to operate rail services in Cambodia)[10]
References
- "Who we are". Royalgroup.com.kh. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
- "Milestones". Royalgroup.com.kh. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
- Mech Dara (15 June 2016). "Gov't halts building of Koh Rong island port". Phnompenhpost.com. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
- Khuon Narim (22 January 2016). "Royal Group Ordered to Dismantle Jetty on O'Tres Beach". Cambodiadaily.com. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
- McCargo, Duncan; Pathmanand, Ukrist (2004). The Thaksinization of Thailand. NIAS Studies in Contemporary Asian History. Copenhagen: NIAS Press. p. 52. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- "Camlife moving forward for Cambodians". Phnompenhpost.com. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
- Lee, Yoomlin; Ismail, Netty (27 August 2008). "Pol Pot Victims From Killing Fields Plan Resorts by Angkor Wat". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- Kali Kotoski (28 March 2016). "Royal buys out One TV to focus on distribution". Phnompenhpost.com. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
- "Cambodia Conglomerate, The Royal Group, Planning to Develop the Island of Koh Rong into an Ecologically Sustainable Resort Rivaling Destinations like Phuket and Bali". Hotel Online. 19 May 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
- Cheng Sokhorng (29 March 2016). "Russian firm exploring potential rail deal". Phnompenhpost.com. Retrieved 2016-07-10.