CCA Hosts Quarterly Members Reunion Party

• 9 July 2016
• Association Focus
• 4956 Views

With the common aim to strengthen business relationships among its members, the Cambodia Constructors Association (CCA) hosted its quarterly business networking party which was attended by over 200 local and international executives from its 113 member companies and invited guests.

The friendly dinner party hosted in March 2016 at Tonle Bassac II restaurant provided a backdrop for representatives from member companies to strengthen relationships and explore potential business matching.

Addressing the gathering, CCA Chairman Neak Oknha Pung Kheav said the association seeks any possible means to bring benefits to member companies including a commitment to hosting these quarterly networking functions

“We have committed our best efforts to providing benefits to all our members by helping promote their businesses via any possible means such as organising business networking events and exhibitions to showcase their products/services,” he said adding that, “The association hopes to see stronger support from each member so as to gain more enrolments from other construction-related companies to strengthen the club,” he said.

The CCA is a privately-run constructors group in Cambodia established in 2011. Now five years old, the association has seen membership grow from 36 in 2012 to 58 in 2013, 80 in 2014 and 116 in 2015. Members comprise local and international constructors, developers, construction material suppliers, realtors, banks and insurers.

The CCA is also a member of the ASEAN Constructors Federation (ACF), the China-ASEAN Building Materials Committee, and the International Federation of Asian & Western Pacific Contractors ‘Association (IFAWPCA). Commenting on the development of satellite cities in Cambodia, Neak Oknha Pung Kheav, who is also the director of conglomerate OCIC that is developing Diamond Island and Chroy Changvar satellite cities, said, “They are the international trend in other countries where there are more than 3 million people in major cities. These cities need to develop satellite cities with complete infrastructure and services to handle excess citizens so as to reduce traffic jams and other issues affecting the main cities.” He also mentioned that Phnom Penh’s City Hall has greatly encouraged investors for satellite city developments

This real estate guru predicts Phnom Penh will see more high-rises like other developed countries but only if there is strong buying and leasing powers. “If they build, and there are not enough customers to buy or lease the building, their investment will fail.”

He noted that more developers are focusing on the quality of building projects amid the tough market competition, unlike before.

According to the CCA president, 300,000 employees are working at various projects in Cambodia, especially in Phnom Penh. Diamond Island alone employs over 3,000 workers. He complained that

developers don’t want to hire foreign workers as they are more expensive than locals, but the lack of local skilled labour presents the main challenge. “Developers don’t want to hire foreign workers because it is expensive, but they don’t have a choice as local labourers don’t have the skills they need,” he said, adding that, “I believe each construction company has a plan to train their own staff to reduce costs and Canadia and Koh Pich are doing this.”