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The Royal Group

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The Royal Group
Company typeConglomerate (company)
Founded1991; 33 years ago (1991)
FounderNeak Oknha Kith Meng
HeadquartersPhnom Penh, Cambodia
Websitewww.royalgroup.com.kh

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]

History

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Royal Group 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 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 a 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

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  • 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 Service (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 Tower (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]

Controversies

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In June 2011, a leaked American diplomatic cable called Royal Group's CEO Kith meng a "relatively young and ruthless gangster," and stated that he was "notorious for using his bodyguards to coerce others into brokering deals."[11] Royal Group has received particular criticism regarding environmental issues in Cambodia, most prominently illegal logging in protected areas,[12] displacing indigenous and destroying rural villages, and harming fishing grounds for hydroelectric projects without compensation or proper environmental assessment reports.[13] Villagers have reported being afraid to speak out due to fears that Royal Group would have them killed, saying that local military and police were watching them at the behest of the conglomerate.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Who we are". Royalgroup.com.kh. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
  2. ^ "Milestones". Royalgroup.com.kh. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
  3. ^ Mech Dara (15 June 2016). "Gov't halts building of Koh Rong island port". Phnompenhpost.com. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
  4. ^ Khuon Narim (22 January 2016). "Royal Group Ordered to Dismantle Jetty on O'Tres Beach". Cambodiadaily.com. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
  5. ^ McCargo, Duncan; Pathmanand, Ukrist (2004). The Thaksinization of Thailand. NIAS Studies in Contemporary Asian History. Copenhagen: NIAS Press. p. 52. ISBN 978-87-91114-46-5. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  6. ^ "Camlife moving forward for Cambodians". Phnompenhpost.com. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Kali Kotoski (28 March 2016). "Royal buys out One TV to focus on distribution". Phnompenhpost.com. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
  9. ^ "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. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  10. ^ Cheng Sokhorng (29 March 2016). "Russian firm exploring potential rail deal". Phnompenhpost.com. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
  11. ^ Post Staff (July 13, 2011). "Cambodia's Top 10 Tycoons". Phnom Penh Post.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Cochrane, Liam (May 17, 2017). "ANZ's partner in Cambodia accused by police of illegal logging". ABC News.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Denton, Jenny (October 18, 2017). "'If it's going to kill us, OK, we'll die': Villagers stand firm as Cambodian dam begins to fill". Monga Bay.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Flynn, Gerry (August 22, 2023). "Cambodian conglomerate sparks conflict in Botum Sakor National Park". Monga Bay.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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