With the new year upon us and the schools having re-opened across Cambodia, there is generally also an influx of new residents to the Kingdom, some of whom will undoubtedly have made the move for the first time with their families.Although Phnom Penh, for example, can’t ever claim to be the greenest city in the world, there are some green spaces and parks as well as other family-friendly attractions and great activities to be enjoyed, with other Cambodian cities and urban areas also taking these into consideration. Beyond the usual commercial and retail property developments, markets and tourist attractions help contribute to the economy and encourage small and medium-sized businesses, while foot traffic and motorised traffic at these attractions and activities also play their part in urban planning and on residential and business property prices. What Cambodian Parks Can You Enjoy In 2024The capital of Cambodia and other towns and cities have been diversifying the use of available land by adding new family-friendly attractions to their urban environment, and hopefully, more green spaces, as these have been proven to be important for many reasons. Samdech Vibol Panha Sok An Kirivong Cultural Park - TakeoThe cultural park is due to be completed in Q1 2024 and is being developed by SOMA Construction & Development Co., Ltd. in Boeung Tonleab, Preah Bat Choan Chum commune, Kirivong district, in Takeo province. Intended to be 500 meters long and 100 meters wide, the Samdech Vibol Panha Sok An Kirivong Cultural Park is located along National Road 2 and has been funded by the family of Samdech Sok An in tribute to the deceased former Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister who grew up in the area.Based on the initial photos released by SOMA towards the end of 2023, it is looking very family-friendly and picturesque.Included at the park will be a statue of Samdech Sok An, a library, sports court, gyms, café, a lounge, as well as a kid's playground. In addition, the water features mean there is a boating area planned as well as other public events areas.The Cambodian park is intended for locals and guests to enjoy a leisurely walk and to exercise, while the public library will be available to help empower education and “to serve other public interests in the future”, said the province's governor. Takeo is also one of the stops on the southbound passenger train from Phnom Penh so it's an easy day trip from the capital.Coconut Park - Phnom PenhOne of the most popular parks in the Cambodian capital, Coconut Park is a free public park located on Koh Pich and has some greenspaces as well as restaurants, bars, a roller skating rink (CIS Roller Dome), bike trails, a Splash Pad, and the area also has been host to markets and other events.The Makerspace Ceramik Art Studio also has a range of interactive activities for kids and adults with the creative space providing a Lego studio.Aquation Phnom Penh / Treellion ParkNot far from Coconut Park, Treellion Park is home to the city’s only put-put course (Birdies Mini Golf), and the DIB club swimming pool is popular for all ages. The surreal statues and garden decorations make Treellion Park an interesting place to wander around and there are increasing choices of eateries such The Bus and the Glasshouse.  The area has also been used for concerts and music and themed events. There was even karting introduced in 2023 (Kart Station) but this appears to have been suspended.Sunshine Family Park - Phnom PenhThe Sunshine Family Park is located in Phnom Penh on Ayasmayan West Street (113) which was completed towards the end of 2023 and is self-billed as a “power-free amusement park” thus, the first of its kind in Cambodia.Presented as a theme park with staff in costumes, there are plenty of Instagram moments, with inflatables set up for youths to play on, but there are also slides, jungle gyms and other attractions intended for kids. The venue has already been holding live music concerts so it may not suit everyone’s tastes, and there is a night market selling food and drinks. Garden City Waterpark - Phnom PenhAlthough not a green park, this water park is a welcome relief to the endless hot months in Cambodia, and the Phnom Penh water park is probably the biggest in the country offering more than 38 slides as well as a 550-metre-long Lazy River. The Kids Paradise water playground is PG13-safe but older kids can still get their thrills on slides such as the Kamikaze water slide.Kampot River ParkAlthough it can get busy, especially over the weekends, the Kampot River Park offers water slides, a water park, zip lines, as well as activities such as kayaking, paddle boards and pedal boats to be used on the river. There are also bungalows and a restaurant serving local food as well as drinks.Located at the Toek Chhou Rapids approximately 10 kilometres from Kampot in Bat Kbal Damrei village, Makprang commune, the park is meant to be open from 10am to 5pm.Suggested Cambodian Family Activities 2024Angkor Eye - Siem Reap Siem Reap has ample green space and plenty to do for locals, tourists, and expats. One of the attractions worth families checking out away from the temples is the Angkor Eye, which is a 60-metre-high Ferris wheel (the tallest in the Kingdom) offering stunning views of the countryside and a different perspective of the famous Angkor Wat complex. It's worth booking a trip at sunset for the Golden Hour at and stunning views and family portraits. You can also book an afternoon tea or cocktail experience in one of the capsules.Kids of all ages are welcome if accompanied by an adult, and as a bonus, children under 3 ride for free if accompanied.KHMER Streat - Food Festival & Night Market There have been an increasing number of markets to pour over the weekends in Cambodia’s capital - with farmers markets proving a hit.This new food and night market is planned to launch in January 2024 and will be located in the Koh Norea area which is undergoing massive development.KHMER Streat - Food Festival & Night Market is intended to be for families and individuals and will offer Cambodian and international cuisine with entertainment also planned such as live music, cultural performances, and games. The market is scheduled to be open from 4-11 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.N5 Night Market - Phnom PenhOpened in November 2023, N5 is the Biggest Night Market in Phnom Penh. There are several such markets in the city, including the Night Market in Borey Peng Huoth Boeung Snor, Prince Plaza Night Market, and 60M Night Market etc. On its debut to the north of the city, it was estimated to have received as many as 30,000 visitors enjoying goods from over 300 vendors! The park was developed by Prince Real Estate which has a view of ‘building a better life’ and modernising urban Cambodia through high-quality developments. The development costs totalled USD $1 million, and the park covers an area of 18,000 square meters. There are food, drinks, handicrafts, a graffiti wall, as well as live music shows, a kid’s playground, grass lawns and even a gaming zone.These are just a small selection available but with the anticipated publication of ‘Projects for Phnom Penh: Urban Green Network Regeneration’ by Urban Lab and the American University of Phnom Penh in 2024, more eco-friendly and sustainable markets and urban spaces will be placed in the spotlight as the urbanisation of the Kingdom of Cambodia races into the future.

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The riverside in the capital of Phnom Penh often seems to elicit a love-or-hate reaction, but until the pandemic struck with its economic hammer blow, the area along Sisowath Quay was at the heart of most tourists’ visits to Cambodia. COVID-19 obliterated businesses along the river-facing quayside, it's still visibly bearing the scars with many closed and vacant shophouses.The area though was due a rejuvenation, and new hotels, restaurants and developments mixed with the popular eateries, bars and guesthouses that survived the pandemic, as well as the longstanding heritage and colonial buildings offer a glimmer of the changing face of a new riverside. What Is New To The Riverside In Phnom PenhOver the past decade, the riverside area has seen many changes with the selection of bars, restaurants and hotels becoming more diverse, which is important to the budgets and tastes of all travellers whether it be domestic or international tourists and visitors.In terms of hotels, Tribe and KVL are new additions while others still hang in stasis with their development coming to a halt during the pandemic. In 2022, Accor also announced it would open its first Ibis budget hotel in Cambodia with the Ibis budget Phnom Penh Riverside.Popular F&B establishments such as Oskar and Metro survived and the addition of the 313 Quayside mall was somewhat of a surprise; Rukkha Sky Bar & Tapas, The Waterside restaurant, Starbucks, Pizza 4Ps and the selection of Asian restaurants have been welcome additions.The survival of rooftop bars such as Juniper, and long-standing Italian restaurant Pop, and the selection of budget-friendly bars and restaurants are a relief too. Amanjaya Hotel took the time to undergo major renovations but the popular FCC stays in a status of limbo/construction.Between the quayside mall and the night market, there has also been the addition of a new Mexicano restaurant and the rooftop The Hideout sports bar and restaurant, while further along Hummus House still remain popular.Infrastructure Set to Change The AreaThe two main infrastructure projects which may change the face of the riverside area are the proposed development of the bridge from the night market across to Chroy Changvar. The Cambodia-South Korea Friendship Bridge construction is due to start in 2023.The ongoing Yuetai Phnom Penh Harbour development will be occupying approximately 1.2 million sqm, and include a commercial development with a construction area of 1.17 million sqm. The project is split into four phases, from Chroy Changvar Bridge down to the Titanic Restaurant.Blending A Modernising City With Heritage PreservationFor many years, there have been suggestions of making the riverside, or sections of it, more pedestrian-friendly and even banning vehicle traffic for certain time periods. There have also been voiced concerns about protecting the style of the area and the many historical buildings in the vicinity. How does the city modernise, expand and maintain its legacy?The Sisowath quayside is still home to some of the biggest cultural tourist attractions in the city, most notably the Royal Palace and adjacent museums, the pagodas such as Wat Analoum and the Preah Ang Dornkeu shrine and Wat Phnom. The Chaktomuk Theatre and the French colonial buildings near the Cambodia Post Office are both of historical and heritage significance too, while the more than a century-old Chinese House still lies vacant but protected.Soreasmey Bin Ke, the founder and CEO of Confluence (a Cambodian market-access firm) partnered with Trove (a New York-based tourism development advisory firm) to recently present a Sangkat-level urban tourism plan to the Ministry of Tourism and detailed heritage preservation. He said, “The main objectives were to create a plan capable of supporting the sustainable local economic development of the proposed areas: Phsar Kandal Ti Mouy/Riverside and Wat Phnom/La Poste areas.This will enable the local community to gain benefits from the natural and cultural heritage. Our work was based on the best international models adapted to the Cambodian context, so the framework we suggested is able to enhance the quality of the tourism potential in a structured manner, and provide a replicable model for localised urban tourism planning across Cambodia.”He added that there were two main outcomes - the creation of a local stakeholder tourism steering group involving the public, private stakeholders, and community who will manage and progress the recommendations in the plan. Secondly, a full audit/inventory/situation diagnostic of the project area was also completed, including asset mapping to assess the current situation regarding tourism development and its potential.”In total, there were 40 key recommendations based on four key areas; sociability, access and linkages, uses and activities, and comfort and image. In terms of city planning and maintaining the local heritage, Soreasmey added, “I do believe heritage preservation today is key to Phnom Penh’s future. Our capital city is no longer a small city, we can see how it has expanded both horizontally and vertically. A tremendous job has been achieved in terms of infrastructure, and more is coming - a massive new airport, ring roads, flyovers, a possible tramway, skytrain or cable cars will complement the 100+ public city buses already serving the city. Public parks have also been announced in the near future.This is great, but we should not forget the soul of the city. Our city lives through two main assets, its history and what is left of it and its people. Some iconic colonial buildings have been destroyed, but Phnom Penh has kept its soul alive, with its dozens of pagodas, historical sites, markets, and eclectic people. This is already a victory.”This mix of new and old is one all growing urban centres face globally and it's a balancing act. “We want to preserve and highlight everything that makes Phnom Penh unique. This creates an experience that is worth staying for, and coming back for. How can we utilise the treasures of the urban heritage, history, culture and architecture to spur tourism development? That is the major challenge we need to have a solution for if we want Phnom Penh to rise as the next landmark city of Asia.”In late 2022, a Future City Summit was held and urban transformation, city retrofitting and urban technology co-investment were discussed.Living Forum, a group of Junior Research Fellows from Future Forum, who utilise research, design, and policy formation to shape Cambodia’s urban outlook said, “City planning, we believe, is about developing communities that are more liveable, affordable and sustainable. There must be an emphasis on people, especially when making decisions for urban mobility. Transportation infrastructure should prioritise augmenting and completely replacing vehicle-centric streets with new public transit lines, revamping old ones, and improving walkability and likeability.Consequently, the space gained from this process can then be reallocated into additional public spaces, which serve social, economic, and cultural purposes. Easing the commute to the riverside and active public spaces positively impacts the prospects of rehabilitating and preserving architectural heritage. Phnom Penh should commit to an integrated approach, taking into account economics, heritage, sustainability, and governance.”On maintaining heritage they were also adamant. “It is not only crucial, it is existential. For a city would not be much without heritage, character, uniqueness, and creativity. As such, all of these are key livability criteria, and having good livability attracts more skilled workers, visitors, innovations, and investment. To put it simply, livability correlates to a city’s potential.”In conclusion, they reiterated that a “strong sense of identity brings livability, and livability brings tremendous value in both tourism, investment, and other economic benefits.Efforts to enhance creativity and cultural productivity are also a sign of expansion and modernisation - they are not necessarily mutually exclusive preservation. Modernisation doesn't always mean importing something completely new but finding ways to make living easier and more accessible for people, while also maintaining Phnom Penh’s identity. In short, modernisation should be a way to iterate and evolve locally inspired and contextually relevant urban design and planning.”

The Cambodia Real Estate Survey is an annual initiative that Realestate.com.kh uses to create valuable reports and insights on the local property market that are published for free across its platforms, so buyers, renters, agents, developers, and the industry, in general, can continue to make informed decisions when buying, renting or selling property.Your answers go a long way in helping improve the Cambodian real estate market. Rest assured that your answers will be kept confidential and anonymous in our final report.If you would like to receive a copy of the final report and go in the lucky draw to win a brand new iPhone 14, make sure you add your contact details at the end of the survey. Simply complete the 5 minute survey for your chance to win! Start Survey

A new year brings renewed optimism, and while reports from the International Monetary Fund suggest as many as a third of all countries globally will enter recession in 2023, generally, Cambodia still has a positive outlook this year. Key to this economic growth is investment and new infrastructure projects which get underway or will be completed in 2023 - strengthening transport and logistics, improving the landscape for future investment, and adding to the foundations of a country powering towards its ambitious goal of becoming an upper-middle income nation by 2030.New Bridges - Korea-Cambodia Friendship Bridge The construction of the Cambodia-South Korea Friendship Bridge is due to start in the second half of 2023 with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport set to meet with their South Korean counterparts at the start of 2023 to finalise details.The South Korean government has pledged USD $1.5 billion in economic development loans to the Kingdom under the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF). The bridge is planned to be built in two sections across the Mekong River and the Tonle Sap River in Kandal province. In the heart of Phnom Penh, the first section will be constructed from the night market near the riverside and across to the Chroy Changvar peninsula, with the second section of the bridge stretching across the Mekong River to Arey Ksat. The project is expected to cost around USD $245 million and take around four years to complete, and the cable-stayed bridge will have four lanes of traffic.These projects are necessary growing pains which will undoubtedly impact areas during the construction phase but these transport links are needed as the city expands beyond its current limits. Koh Norea Development (And More Bridges)The USD $2.5 billion Koh Norea project is a massive and ambitious project covering 125 hectares in the capital and led by the OCIC. The project won't be completed in 2023 as it had only reached 30% completion by mid-2022.The satellite city is intended to be home to commercial & entertainment areas, residential properties, schools, a medical centre, and many other urban conveniences.The development is expected to offer capacity for around 50,000 people and will generate 7,000 jobs initially, rising to 10,000 at completion. The development will also see the addition of two more bridges in the capital -  one connecting Koh Pich to Koh Norea which started construction in 2020 and is expected to cost USD $38 million. This larger bridge is 824 metres long and 24.5 metres wide with two 60-metre-high cable-stayed pillars and will have four main lanes and two motorbike lanes. The second bridge connects Koh Norea to National Road 1 and is 16 metres long and 21 metres wide, costing USD $1.6 million. A number of property developments hinge on the development of the area including Vue Aston, while luxury real estate developer AKRAM Development Co., Ltd acquired 3.5 hectares of land in Koh Norea to build Cambodia’s first ultra-luxurious development.Kampot Tourist Seaport & Deep-Sea PortThe long-delayed Kampot Seaport was due to open several times over recent years but was pushed back during the pandemic. The project was announced to be completed in October 2022 but is now awaiting government approval and funding to deepen the Kampot International Tourism Port’s waterway and make further improvements.The port was constructed with an Asian Development Bank-approved USD $18 million loan and features a 123 metre long & 11-metre-wide wharf leading to facilities including passenger and restaurant buildings - it is hoped that the Kampot Seaport will be able ​to accommodate one million travellers annually.With tourism rebounding in 2023, the time is perfect for the Kampot Seaport to be functional if it means fulfilling the ambition of the Ministry of Tourism to become the country’s main gateway to tourism destinations in the region.In 2022, the construction of a large international deep-sea port in Kampot also got underway at an estimated cost of USD $1.5 billion. “The port has a water depth of up to 15 metres, which can accommodate large cargo ships with a capacity of up to 100,000 tonnes,” said the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction.The newly inaugurated NR41 will also connect major international ports such as the Kampot port, the logistics centre under construction at the Kampot tourism port, the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port and the newly built Kep-Koh Tonsay tourism port.Cambodian Airport Construction ProjectsThe Techo Takhmao International Airport, located around 35 kilometres south of Phnom Penh, is a joint venture between the Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation, the Cambodian government, and the SSCA - called the Cambodia Airport Investment (CAIC).By mid-2022, construction of the new international airport was one-third complete, but the important announcement of the partnership with Changi Airport Group has provided a boost of confidence to the ambitions for the airport to be the ninth largest in the world - importantly it will be designated as a 4F class airport allowing for larger aircraft to make use of the transport hub.The project spans over 2,600 hectares in Kandal Province, and the plan is for the airport to be an international hub connecting flights globally. According to the master plan, the airport will handle 13 million passengers a year in the first phase, 30 million passengers in the second phase in 2030, and up to 50 million passengers in 2050 in the third phase.The Dara Sakor International Airport, following several delays, is due to start operations in Koh Kong province in mid-2023.Siem Reap Angkor International Airport continues its construction phase well into 2023 but the project is behind schedule.Sihanoukville International Airport could also see a possible expansion and an upgrade in 2023 according to its operator VINCI Airports - this would be important in the long run for huge projects such as the Bay of Lights on the coast.New Cambodian ExpresswaysFollowing on from the success of the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, which saw more than one million vehicles make use it in the first three months of opening, other major expressways and road improvements are in the works in 2023.Two more road projects were inaugurated on the eve of 2023 - National Road N31 connecting Takeo province with Kampot province, and National Road N33 linking Kampot town with Kep.The Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway should get underway in mid-2023 - the 138-kilometre expressway project is estimated to cost USD $1.63 billion.A feasibility study for the construction of a Phnom Penh-Siem Reap Expressway will be completed in 2023.Rail Construction?Phnom Penh and Cambodia have been linked to many railway projects over the years and there has been a renewal of interest in developing a transit network in the capital, while a national rail service linking the country to its neighbours such as Vietnam, Thailand and Laos would boost trade and logistics.However, of all of the infrastructure projects in this list, the development of a high-speed rail network or one in the capital within 2023 is least likely. There are post-election 2023 promises being made for the possible Poipet-Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville railway, the Poipet-Siem Reap-Kampong Thom-Kampong Chhnang-Phnom Penh and Phnom Penh-Bavet lines, with the latter planned to link with Ho Chi Minh City via Moc Bai.There is no shortage of investment into the infrastructure of the country, and Cambodia needs these partnerships (and increasing loans which need to be carefully monitored) for its gradual ascendance to be a regional economic player - 2023 is a milestone year for many of these projects and their progress and delivery will be exciting to monitor.

Phnom Penh: On Friday, January 6, 2023, at the Raffles Le Royal Hotel, there was held a signing ceremony of the Brand Ambassador between Ms. Nikki Nikki and the Vong Residence. Presided by Mrs. Meun Sreynet, CEO of the company, as well as management and staff members.The signing ceremony was to open a new era of cooperation between the two sides on the work as brand ambassadors of Vong Residence, especially to develop the quality, aesthetic, beautiful and civilized housing construction.Mrs. Meun Sreyneth, the CEO, said with confidence that "Vong Residence is a much-needed addition to the community, with the best potential, safety standards, high quality, and excellence both for living and business”. She continued, "Seeing the support and love from fans and the general public, as well as her diverse abilities, likeable manners and speech, general knowledge, ethics, friendliness, positive social relations, and most importantly, her multiple talents, we decided to choose Ms. Nikki Nikki as our brand ambassador - the perfect choice for Vong Residence."Ms. Nikki Nikki said “I am very honored to be the brand Ambassador of the Vong Residence, I am so excited, it’s indescribable! Behind this decision there have been discussions, evaluations and expectations. House is not a Home - having a house but not living together is not a happiness family, as only a shell. Home is really the most important thing to build happiness together, home for dinner, family reunion, represent me like my song "Home For Dinner". Home is like workers who work together, build together, protect each other, have goals and hopes that are a source of energy and strength. I am ready to prepare the conten tsrelated to the Vong Residence to educate and encourage the benefit of our project to fans and clients. I believe that Vong Residence will receive strong support from customers and I will join the company's activities to achieve the common goal.” Please be informed that Vong Residence is located along Street 20A near Ring Road 3 in Sangkat Tien, Khan Dangkor, Phnom Penh - a favorable location with high economic potential, near new Phnom Penh International Airport and the new Aeon Mall 3. The value of the Vong Residence is "Building One’s Harmony ."

As 2022 drew to a close, we enter 2023 still facing serious challenges but Cambodia is in a far more economically positive place than it was a year ago. There are actually some really exciting milestones due to take place in the coming year and the trends are shifting to potentially healthier sector outlooks and ongoing infrastructure development that can ignite industries and a rebound in tourism.This is fuelled by the announcement that China will relax travel restrictions in January - a potentially vital economic step for the region and the Kingdom.Here are the top economic drivers we are excited about in 2023.Southeast Asia Games 2023It's hard to ignore the importance of the first SEA Games to be hosted by Cambodia from May 5-17 2023, as well as the 12th ASEAN Para Games which are due to be held in June 2023.It almost feels as if the year in some way hinges on the success of the Games. Aside from the sporting prowess of athletes on display, it will be the opportune time for major cities in Cambodia to be showcased to the regional and global media, which means investors too. With events due to take place in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Kep, and Kampot, the epicentre will undoubtedly be the area around the new Morodok Techo National Stadium in Chroy Changvar. With recent assurance, the important athlete's village is on track at Worldbridge Sport Village, how all visitors, as well as the media, enjoy their experience and the facilities are paramount in generating positive press which could lead to a surge in investment as Cambodia tries to carry its ‘tiger status’ as an investment destination.Much of this comes down to attention to details, something that perhaps in the past was not a strong point for the Kingdom. However, the huge success of the ASEAN Summits in Phnom Penh demonstrated the ability to host such important events. The authorities need to encourage local involvement and drive national sentiment while appealing to international investors, which is a balancing act - local strategic planning is hugely important, as is clear communication. We all want a successful SEA Games, and for Cambodia to haul in record medals for the athletes but there is more at stake economically for the nation.Continued Economic Recovery & GrowthDue to rising global demand, foreign investors’ confidence, and a full reopening of Cambodia’s borders, the Kingdom was anticipated to see 5.4 per cent economic growth in 2022 and 6.6 per cent in 2023, according to Economy and Finance Minister Aun Pornmoniroth. The GDP per capita was expected to rise to USD $1,785 in 2022 and should increase to USD $1,924 in 2023.(Cambodia's economy was forecast to grow 5 per cent in 2022 and 5.4 per cent in 2023 according to the IMF in mid-December 2022).The success of the economy still rests on the same key pillars. Garment exports, construction and real estate, tourism, and agriculture should all continue to see growth in 2023 due to various factors. However, there are signals there could be slowing demand in the export markets in Europe and the United States but new trade agreements and the success of RCEP and others may also offset this.The International Monetary Fund agreed that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) will support Cambodia’s economic growth over the medium term.The garment and construction sectors are set to grow by 9.2 per cent in 2023, while the service sector (including tourism and real estate) should see 6.6 per cent growth, while agriculture will see a marginal 1.1 per cent growth. Cambodia faces inflation too, and this is expected to drop to 2.5 per cent in 2023, down from 5 per cent in 2022.The same core obstacles that hampered the past 12 months remain - the global economy staring down possible recession coming into 2023 and the impacts of the supply chain and trade negatively impacted by the actions of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but the tight zero-COVID policy change in China shouldn't be underestimated, although its economic repercussions are obviously not completely known.Other key factors to keep an eye on heading into 2023 are:Will Cambodia be removed from the AML ‘Grey List”? - The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is set to visit and assess the country’s AML/CFT efforts in January 2023.Ongoing Digitalisation & Cross-border payments - Cambodian banks made huge headway in the digital landscape, with online transactions surging, more innovative apps and cross-border payment systems, as well as agreements on a standardised KHQR.Ongoing investment into construction - Licenses were granted to 3,827 construction projects with a total investment of USD $2.63 billion in 2022.Infrastructure projects - Bridges (Korea-Cambodia Friendship Bridge & Mekong River-Crossing Kratie Province Bridge), National roads (PP-Bavet Expressway and Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville (PPSHV) Expressway, the Kampot Seaport, airport renovations and construction.These are key signals to economic development and many are due for completion in 2023!Sustained Tourism Resurgence Tourism numbers rebounded strongly as 2022 progressed and the numbers recorded at the start of the peak season were very optimistic. China will, as of January 8 2023, drop quarantine upon arrival for inbound travellers - this should see a spike in visitors in Q1 2023 Cambodia. In 2019, Cambodia received an estimated 2,3 million Chinese tourists, only 330,000 in 2020, and 24,000 in 2021! If the trend follows the rest of the globe when border restrictions are eased, there will be a lot of pent-up travellers very keen to get out and see the world again from the Chinese mainland.According to trip.com, the U.S. and Southeast Asian countries were among the top 10 overseas destinations with the fastest-growing search volume by Chinese users in the wake of the news with trips being booked.With SEA seeing a 26.3 per cent recovery rate versus pre-pandemic levels in tourism, Cambodia was ranked third among ASEAN member states. This has been buoyed by a number of airlines and routes quickly being re-established as Cambodia was seen as being “open for tourism and business”.Foreign tourism numbers were expected to reach 2.2 million by the end of 2022, and pre-COVID numbers were 7 million - the room for growth is clear.Cambodia Airports confirmed that Cambodia is serving 24 destinations and 11 countries by the end of 2022 - still nowhere near pre-pandemic levels.It is expected that a direct flight will be resumed between Cambodia and Japan, a reopening and new Cambodia-Vietnam routes, while other routes with India, Timor-Leste and others are being discussed.Air Asia for one, is going all in on Cambodia and their decision to launch Air Asia Cambodia in 2023 in a joint venture partnership with Sivilai Asia is massive. Capital A Chief Executive Tony Fernandes provided three reasons why they chose the Kingdom - the huge potential GDP growth, a good population, and three great cities; Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville to launch flights to and from.Visitors and the ease at which international tourists can enter Cambodia are obviously important but the Kingdom still needs to diversify its attractions and tourism industry. Increased focus on natural and eco-tourism preservation and promotion as well as heritage and cultural preservation is needed.2023 is exciting, it doesn't come without its headwinds and growth might start gradually, but it should accelerate as the year progresses. The key pillars remain just that, but the Kingdom needs to keep exploring new tech avenues, embrace diversified industries and take advantage of its advantageous attraction within the region.

In the process toward International Development Standard, Phnom Penh has never lacked “extraordinary events”: On December 15th, AEON III celebrated its soft opening which is situated along Hun Sen Boulevard, Phnom Penh. Whereas on December 26th, the first real estate project exhibition is hosted by non-other than Le Condé BKK1 @ AEON III! Le Condé BKK1 is as always, the forefront that led the trend!AEON III’s first real estate project exhibition with 200 square-meter space of luxury exhibition officially kickstarted.Luxurious exhibition with the space of over 200 square meter-square which includes fun activities awaits you:Family-themed photo booth with Chinese reunion elements have attracted many guests to visit. A family portrait embodies the guest’s love towards their home;The blessing tree which represents good wealth and health has bloomed on the exhibition. Beloved guests please come over with sincere heart and make your Chinese New Year wishes. Of course, the Chinese New Year’s lucky red envelope to mark the celebration scene is available!The most highly anticipated thing is definitely the lucky-draw. XiaoMi home appliances, golden eggs and non-stop surprises kept on coming. This has definitely caused a scene which attracted countless spectators to stop and watch. There is no denying that Le Condé BKK1 has once again created something extraordinary!Le Condé BKK1Explorers and leaders of the trendsetter.Looking back at the past three years, the first real estate exhibitor in AEON III, the first real estate company to exhibit in AEON I and the first real estate company auto show initiator, its non-other than Le Condé BKK1. The forefront of the industry; especially in the Phnom Penh market where the overall transaction volume exceeds 200Million square meters in 2022 and the success deals is superb. The sales performance of Le Condé BKK1 is as bright as the shiny stars on the skies.What makes it successful?The logic towards the success is the product structure are based on the needs of the customers in the property market! This is very common for many players in the property market, a clear understanding on the development of the entire city. It is not something you can achieve overnight! The players of this industry need to carefully study Le Condé BKK1 especially in terms of product strength!Begin with the local community and continue towards globalIn the real estate industry, a company that does not have a benchmark project will have no convincing power. Focusing on the creation of the product is essential! Without a competitive product means there is no brand significance!As for the benchmarking work in order to penetrate Phnom Penh for the first time, the developer of Le Condé BKK1: Wangfu International resolutely choose the architect who knows Cambodia best – Van Molyvann. The architectural design of Le Condé BKK1 inherits the design concept of Mr. Van Molyvann's architecture as an extension of nature. Inspired by the "terraced fields" in Southeast Asia, it incorporates the feelings and elegance of oriental literature, and benchmarks from the source Van Molyvann’s masterpieces: Cambodian Olympic Stadium, Senate Building, Independence Monument and other national landmarks, which fully explain how Wangfu International has towards the importance of research and development and also demonstrate the high advanced vision!Of course, the birth of Le CondéB KK1 was not an improvisation, as early as 2019 before the Research and Development team in the depth of layout, thinking, trying, from field research to door-to-door project visits, from the transposition of experience to answer the demand, based on a strong data, insight into [human nature]: Phnom Penh’s four revolutionary packages that are well-known to everyone:Bringing Phnom Penh's first sky jogging track to a city with year-round 30℃ heat.1,000 square-meter immersive sky garden balancing nature and life.800 square-meter children's playground to create a parent-child space for the young city that will welcome the next generation.Phnom Penh's first reading space creates a palace of free thought in the city;A total of more than 10,000 square meters of shared space, covering dimensions such as the customer itself and family needs, tailor-made unique products that truly fit [Phnom Penh Time]. Such extreme care and layout were not officially presented to the world until in 2019!On the other hand, taking the initiative to go out to learn and exchange information is also the winning strategy of Le Condé BKK1.For example, for the creation of Le Condé Sky Villa-The Condé The Royal, Le Condé BKK1 has conducted specific research on super landmark products and top luxury residential projects around the world, visited more than 10 international metropolises such as the United States, Singapore and Japan, saw more than 50 projects and formed preliminary research results, and finally selected Singapore's famous design Team SingBuild to provide professional development services, which can be said to be at the forefront of the whole industry.The success of bringing up the Sales Galleries in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan has increased the global talents for Le Condé BKK1. This advanced layout, imagination, boldness, and restraint are also worth learning from peers. Thus we can also see the vision and determination of Le Condé BKK1 management for the Cambodian market!Owners from 19 different countries.How to test the results of product development? The sales result is one dimension, but more importantly, it is implemented into the living scene, into various functional settings, and the understanding of the space.In the center of the capital city, where the foreign resident population is as high as 300,000 and the traffic is full of high net worth people, the convenient hotel service and personalized intelligent lifestyle can provide hassle-free solutions and solve the worries of high net worth people at the same time; for example, for the studio type unit, instead of unnecessarily enlarging and emphasizing just right, the traffic area is controlled within a reasonable range as much as possible, so as to free up more area to create a guest dining room and master bedroom, creating a warm social and family bonding space.Even if we don't conclude with sales, the industry awards are a good indication of its impact.Winner of the Asia Real Estate Awards Serviced Apartment Award, the royal residence of the Cambodian royal family, and the unanimous choice of customers from 19 different countries around the world... These awards and honors are confirming the taste and style of Le Condé BKK1. In 2022, the overall project has already exceeded 50% of the total occupancy. Synchronizing with the construction site of Le Condé, as of December, the project has completed 2,5721 square meters of construction area, 2,079.21T of steel reinforcement, and 15,242 cubic meters of concrete and the main building of the project has grown to 18 floors above ground, giving the owners a real peace of mind. These results cannot be achieved without fine management methods, which also shows the execution efficiency of Le Condé BKK1.Phnom Penh is an open market with a huge supply, but it is also a market with brutal competition. The future market is destined to be more and more challenging. High-end people are fed up with mass production, they are more interested in quality products and people's tastes have become more refined.What new trend will Le Condé BKK1 set for the market? From 26th December 2022 till 25th January 2023, Le Condé BKK1@AEON3 exhibition, AEON3 MALL PLUS, come see it for yourself! Learn more about Le Condé !

For years now, the key southern coastal city of Sihanoukville has been in the limelight, a once popular tourist destination for many foreigners and Cambodians, the city underwent rapid transformation & saw a spike in property prices, massive infrastructure development and tourism decline. At times the city has been unsure of its outlook and direction, and although it does still face headwinds, piece by piece elements that showed its great promise are coming together.Tourism - Sihanoukville Needs To Be More Than A Gateway To The IslandsThere was a time when many domestic and international tourists would flock to the Cambodian coast, and especially to Sihanoukville. Otres and its many numbered beaches in particular were lively before the city underwent its infrastructure makeover and tourism dried up due to the pandemic. The guesthouses, beachside restaurants and bars were forcibly removed or moved on, and several business owners relocated to nearby Kampot, Kep or to the islands - the city had changed, the construction was overbearing, casino-hotels dominated the scene and there were more criminal elements.Tourists would still pass through the city as a gateway port to reach the beautiful islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem but few would stay long in the city. The pandemic largely put a halt to the tourism sector.After online gambling and casino laws changed, and massive infrastructure projects slowly crawled to completion or suspension, the city started seeing a slow resurgence post-COVID despite the many obstacles of recent years, which included the absence of Chinese visitors who had been a key tourist and investor segment. In December 2022, the Preah Sihanouk area welcomed 700,000 tourists for the Sea Festival - a first sign of the resurgence in mass tourism to the area. In the second half of 2022, Cambodia has seen a dramatic rise in international visitors and expects to welcome around 2 million international tourists by the end of the year.Vinci Airports, the parent company of Cambodia Airports, has also expressed further expansion plans for Sihanouk International Airport. Prior to the pandemic, due to the increased growth of international flights and visitors to the area, a 3,300-meter runway extension project was completed (to handle long-haul Code E aircraft), and a new temporary arrivals terminal and a VIP building were added in 2021Development And Diversification Of Preah SihanoukIt's also important to acknowledge that valuable lessons have been learned from the international border closures caused by the pandemic, and diversification is a key one.Very few international visitors have been jetting into Sihanoukville over the past couple of years but the area is a key economic and tourist attraction for the Kingdom. Hun Sen has said as much of the potential of Cambodia's coastal areas, nicknamed “The Rising Star of the Southwest”.The Ministry of Economy and Finance and China’s Urban Planning Design Institute of Shenzhen (UPDIS) have also been reviewing the master plan for transforming Preah Sihanouk province into a model multi-purpose special economic zone - intended to be the roadmap to develop the area into a “second Shenzhen city”, in line with the implementation of the national Industrial Development Policy 2015-2025.Since the post-pandemic recovery has been underway, the Asia-Pacific region has been the main source of visitors for Cambodia and the start of the traditional tourist season (December-February) has already seen increased numbers from beyond the region returning to our shores.Other recent key development and economic highlights in Sihanoukville include:The Asian Development Bank approved a $73 million financing package to boost the climate resilience and sustainability of coastal and marine fisheries in Cambodia - It will help coastal provinces address the decline in fisheries, promote sustainable mariculture, and improve seafood safety.Sihanoukville Autonomous Port's new container terminal will allow larger container vessels to call on the port (expected to be completed by mid-2025).The largest power generation project in the country was launched in Q4 2022 - the Huadian Preah Sihanouk coal-fired power plant.A five-star hotel proposed by Maritime City Co., Ltd. valued at USD $164.4 million has been approved by the Council for the Development of Cambodia - while sites by Novotel and Marriott have already been secured.Young Entrepreneurs Association of Cambodia released a new Sihanoukville investment guide, labelling the area the “engine and dragon head” of the Kingdom’s growth.AEON MALL (CAMBODIA) CO., LTD. are developing the country’s first multifunctional logistics centre in Sihanoukville.Bay of Lights A massive development in Ream, called the Bay of Lights by Canopy Sands Development, covers 934 hectares and is set to be another important economic driver if their lofty ambitions come to fruition. The early estimates are that this mammoth development would last for decades (up to 25 years) and has a total projected investment value of USD $20 billion! The Bay of Light development hinges on six key pillars:Offering varied entertainment and lifestyle optionsEducationTourismFinancial ServicesHealth & WellnessArts & CultureThis all-encompassing city would include a marina, golf courses, luxury resorts, shopping malls, condos, universities & international schools, medical centres and a new financial hub. The development expects to create over 300,000 jobs and build 40,000 residential units by 2050.To attract tourists and to cater to people in the area, a number of attractions are under development due for completion in 2023-2024; a beach club, beachside cabin hotel, a go-kart track, bungee rides, paintball, as well as a golf course and a driving range.Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway (PPSHV) Opens Up Economic and Tourist CorridorThe expressway which opened in the second half of 2022 has seen the road journey travel time from the coastal city to the capital be reduced to two hours from anything between 4-6 hours previously.The PPSHV Expressway will provide a significant boost to economic growth and tourism development -  imagine flying into the capital or to Sihakoukville and travelling to the other destination within a couple of hours. In logistics and commerce, container trucks would take 1-2 days to travel between the two economic hubs but now travel two or three times per day, suggested one report.To date, it's the biggest single project under the Belt and Road Initiative cooperation between Cambodia and China and it took three years to complete at a cost of USS $2 billion. But two more expressways are being studied, which will further interconnect key hubs in the KingdomThere has also been a smart push to digitalise the payment process when using expressways to make it more efficient and cashless. Canadia Bank and ABA​ Mobile​ app​ users​ can use digital payment solutions to pay for the toll - the top-up service using car plate numbers and paid via the apps means there is no need to stop and the toll fee will then be automatically deducted (although how useful this is for international visitors or if it's used by the transport companies is unclear).With a strong GDP forecast for Cambodia by many leading international monetary organisations (IMF, ADB & World Bank) in 2023, the rising skilled young population with increased expendable income, combined with the country being seen as an increasingly attractive investment destination and significant infrastructure projects underway - it might be time to consider the long term opportunities in Sihanoukville realistically, as well as its potential to match its hype which has thus far proved to be elusive.

Bay of Lights is a landmark development for Cambodia and the new city development broke ground on Tuesday the 20th of December 2022 with more details confirmed for the project. The master developer, Canopy Sands Development is committed to achieving the full potential Sihanoukville has to provide.The (Recent) History Of Sihanoukville Sihanoukville was once a sleepier coastal town with some hotels, guesthouses and backpackers but very few high-end resorts.By 2019 the coastal region of Cambodia had a thriving deep sea port boosting economic trade, an expanding Special Economic Zone and many flights landing at the international airport from around the region weekly, not to mention the busload of expat visiting over weekends and on holidays and tourists that flocked during the busier season - business and tourism was booming. Although the city was fast developing into a town that attracted high volumes of local visitors and international tourists with increased spending power, Sihanoukville saw the emergence of multiple unregulated casinos and an alarming trend of online gaming operations. Before to the onset of COVID-19, the Cambodian Government stepped in to ban online gambling and casinos, a long-term positive move which saw a mass exodus of people leave Sihanoukville - with many returning to their home countries. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges for Sihanoukville - primarily a skyline of unfinished building projects, poor town planning, and very few tourists as international borders shut and funding also slowed. The Cambodian Government took this as an opportunity to rapidly improve infrastructure by initiating the project to expand the deep sea port, upgrading and completing all local road networks to an international standard, and completing a new expressway connecting with Phnom Penh -  conveniently improving what had become a 6-hour journey into a trip of 90-120 minutes.The New Centre Of Sihanoukville - Bay of LightsThe new epicentre of Sihanoukville is forecasted to increase tourism by 3 million visitors by 2030, adding 330,000 new jobs by 2040, and contributing 40,000 new dwellings to the additional population growth of 160,000 people by 2050. The development focuses on six key pillars; Tourism, Entertainment & Lifestyle, Health & Wellness, Education, Arts & Culture and Financial Services. The key attractions will include; a golf & villa resort; marina; performance theatre; tourism walking streets; shopping malls; medical centre; financial hub; integrated resorts; international school & university; private islands and luxury villas. The vision is aimed to be completed in 2050 and Canopy Sands Managing Director Ian Tan told us about the prospects for the future of Bay of Lights and Sihanoukville, adding that tourists, businesses, hotels and potential partner developers do not have to wait to benefit from the development of Ream Sihanoukville. “The Bay of Lights is a project that will bring about significant change for the Kingdom, and Canopy Sands Development has engaged the best consultants across the world to oversee the completion of this mega-project.With clearer, cleaner waters and its proximity to national parks, the city centre of Sihanoukville is shifting towards the southeastern beaches (Otres and Ream), where the treeline meets the sea. And further away from the deep seaport which is becoming a key zone for commerce, warehousing and trade.”He added, “The beach communities can experience the first ever beach club, with a 60 keys cabin hotel offering ocean views and surrounded by lifestyle and activities such as go-karting, paintballing, and a reverse bungee. Come 2024, a walking street full of artisan shops and items from local designers, food and beverage outlets will be thriving, and of course the pristine golf clubhouse and driving range. All are situated along a white sandy beach and pristine coastline in the Kingdom of Cambodia.I am very confident with the team we have put together and based on my personal experience in delivering previous township projects that this will be a success My personal experience is successfully delivering projects like this across the globe and we are excited to redefine Sihanoukville with our partners, and we look forward to welcoming others to bring the project to life”.

Naki Group is leading the first tokenised real-world asset investment project in Cambodia. By creating a blockchain-based token that is legally backed by the luxury Silvertown Metropolitan property and making it available for both local and international buyers to invest, they are showcasing the ability of the technology to provide greater access and transparency to historically exclusive opportunities. Naki Group announced the launch of the first tokenised real estate investment offering in Cambodia via Silvertown Token (STM) which has been offered to investors since the start of Q4 2022. Veasna Meas, Chief Executive Officer at Naki Group Co Ltd is spearheading the utilisation of blockchain and is adamant it is beneficial in Cambodian property development. He says: “This is easing investment in Cambodia, and by utilising blockchain technology, it's really transparent in terms of the access to information. Usually buying a property in Cambodia involves a lot more steps than buying in a more developed country such as the United States.So what we do is remove the hassle and the risk of information asymmetry when investing and buying in Cambodia by utilising the tech. This helps us as a developer to liquidate and move on to more projects, but as an investor, it's about access to an asset class  which they may never have thought about before.”Blockchain Offers Consumer Protection Through TransparencyVeasna says that lumping blockchain together with Bitcoin and cryptocurrency is not right, and the crypto space has been in the limelight for too many of the wrong reasons of late. Blockchain, however, is about transparency - and with this tokenisation of Silvertown - it’s about providing opportunities for investment.“This investment opportunity with Silvertown is open to anyone who is an accredited investor. We are registered in the US, and as a regulated company, follow the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules which are in place to protect the consumer. This is a real-world asset and investors can even come and see the property at Silvertown Metropolitan in Phnom Penh - that's a huge difference between blockchain in this case and with crypto.” adds Veasna.To conduct the offering and subsequently manage token holders, Naki Group has chosen to partner with TaroFi. The TaroFi platform enables Naki to provide their token holders with real-time information about the performance of the property, trading capabilities, and direct distributions. TaroFi provides users with custodial accounts that they can safely receive distributions to, invest out of, and hold their tokens without the need for a digital wallet, however token holders have the option to self-custody. To register, anyone interested can simply go create an account on TaroFi and submit to a KYC (Know Your Customer) and pass Anti-Money Laundering check to begin investing. All of the information including the operating history of the property, information on the company, and contractual agreements are available on the platform.Why The Tokenisation Model And Blockchain Will Work?Veasna believes the tokenisation aspect via the blockchain is beneficial to all involved, and in addition to the transparency, flow of information, accessibility, diversification, and generating liquidity, he feels it will help first-time investors feel comfortable in investing and make use of this technology.“I believe in it because it can be a win-win situation. As a developer, it will allow us to open the door to raising capital and move on to a new project. Usually, you would need private investors or banks to be involved but using the blockchain and tokenisation opens it up to new investors and a potentially bigger pool of investors - so it can raise capital much easier and faster and enable us to move onto new projects compared to traditional fundraising.”For the investor and token holder, he says “This is a new avenue of investment and income. If they usually are looking at buying a house as their biggest investment, or maybe even two houses, at a certain point they are tapped out and can't buy anymore. But with tokens, they are able to invest in different properties that they couldn't access before.”Veasna also believes this project will show proof of work so moving forward, they might have other projects which will be tokenised but they may even look at running a real estate fund which could stay live.How Does Investment Work?The Silvertown tokenisation development project works on two fronts. Silvertown Metropolitan is a 111-unit luxury condotel in the heart of Phnom Penh’s business district and it was built in 2014.There are 34 units available under this tokenisation scheme, and Veasna says: “We know the generated income at Silvertown and we operate nearly like a hotel - so  customers book to stay at the property which generates rental income from long-term rentals, say 6 months and above.”Secondly, there are units being sold too. “The token holders (investors) will have rights to the profits of the sale of units. If for example each unit is approximately USD $200K, and if we sell them for $250K, that $50K is gross profit that goes to the token holders. So by owning just a portion, the token holders get rights to the profits.”Appealing To A Global MarketVeasna admits that most of their current investors understand the process as it has been targeted in that way. “In  Cambodia there is growth in future investment and the recently held ASEAN Summits shed a positive light on the Kingdom and exposed the country to new investors” he adds.He also says that investors overseas who have never been to the Kingdom need to filter the information on the country.“If there is some negative news seen overseas, which sometimes may not be true, we need to help them analyse and sort through the information to understand what they are hearing and what their concerns are. That's the one part which may need some hand-holding in this investment process for those international investors. Helping them understand the facts and how business is done in Cambodia.”

Vanguard Investment and Consultancy Services Co., Ltd (Cambodia) has been appointed the exclusive property agency for the WorldBridge Sport Village (WBSV).Vanguard Managing Director Harry Martin IV is at the helm of the company after spending several years with OxleyWorldbridge (Cambodia) Co., Ltd as a Sales Director. He managed the sales for their maiden project The Bridge, a 45-storey mixed development with a total of 2477 units consisting of 746 Condominium units, 965 SOHO (Small Office, Home Office) units and a five-storey retail podium housing 766 units. Following the successful launch of the property sales in 2014 which saw 200 units sales on the opening event night, the project received exposure in the region, including Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and China in 2014 and 2015. The Bridge continued to be one of the best-selling projects in Cambodia during that time and was fully sold.Martin then moved on to the property sales of The Peak for OxleyWorldbridge, which launched in 2016 in the Cambodian capital. With over 2300 units in the whole development, The Peak stands at 55 storeys and comprises a mix of condominiums, offices, a retail podium and the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel. He achieved a 100% sale of condominiums and office units and despite the challenges faced in retail during the COVID-19 pandemic had a great track record. Martin identified the opportunity in targeting foreign investors during the pandemic who could not travel.  He took the leap to venture out on his own, leaving OxleyWorldbridge in May 2022 to start his own real estate investment and consultancy firm in Cambodia - Vanguard. He prides himself on his ability to provide professional advice to investors on the property market and to offer a one-stop service in terms of real estate investment. With his invaluable experience in the local property market, he is able to assure foreign investors that their investments and properties are well taken care of. Vanguard has access to some of the leading property developments in the market and they are able to confidently inform clients about on-the-ground information in the local market and to provide a professional and reliable service on their investment journey.  Harry Martin says, “Vanguard, although we are new to the market, the team and myself have built a strong understanding of the local market and surrounding regions. With our vast experience and knowledge, we are able to provide services not only in real estate sales and leasing, but we are moving into property management as well.This enables us to gain the trust of not only local investors but also investors globally. We have also been able to build strong relationships with many local agencies. It's always about doing things differently and doing different things that set a good example.”Vanguard has exclusive agency rights to some incredibly exciting projects; The Bridge, The Peak, The Palms and the Worldbridge Sport Village.Martin added, “I am honoured to be able to be appointed as the exclusive agency for these developments. I was one of the first few to embark on a fruitful journey with OxleyWorldbridge to launch the projects, and it helped me to develop a specific skill set; in terms of planning as a representative of the developer and to engage in external activities in sales to bring the projects overseas. I believe the developer has also been able to see the value I will be able to add to the successful marketing of their projects.”The Worldbridge Sport Village is located opposite the newly built National Stadium, Morodok Techo National Stadium located in Chroy Changvar. The development consists of landed houses, 12 condominium towers, a hotel and a retail podium. Worldbridge Sport Village will also be housing all the athletes participating in the SEA Games in 2023 which Cambodia is hosting for the first time from May 5-17 2023, as well the 12th ASEAN Para Games, which are scheduled for June 2023 and the regional and global media will shine the spotlight on the area during these massive sporting events.On the development of the WBSV, he says, “the developer is working hard towards the completion of the project for the housing of the athletes and are definitely working closely with the various departments in the Government to ensure it will be a hugely successful event.”Vanguard and Harry Martin will be selective in selecting high-potential development projects they will represent and of their selection in property and asset management.There are special property promotions for customers who are interested in investing in the WorldBridge Sport Village, with as much as an 8% discount, and low and affordable monthly instalments, while buyers now have the chance to win the newest Toyota Raize as well as high-end furniture packages.

WorldBridge Sport Village (WBSV), which is built on 6 hectares of prime land in Chroy Changvar, comprises a total of 12 buildings and 265 landed properties. The massive development recently completed construction of all of its building structures and 80% of the building decorations and held its topping-off ceremony for Tower Two.The site is set to be on track to house the thousands of athletes that will call the area home for the SEA Games 2023 in May, which is one of the most exciting events in Cambodia in 2023 (if not the decade).Prime Area For InvestmentThe huge property development at WBSV is carefully being monitored by Neak Oknha Sear Rithy, Chairman of the Board of WorldBridge Group, one of Cambodia's leading real estate investors as the development will be a key cornerstone of the Southeast Asian Games next year.The first large-scale commercial and residential areas of WorldBridge Sport Village will open soon in the Samdech Techo Dragon City which is located north of the capital in an area primed for growth and development.The potential downtown area of this new satellite city near Phnom Penh is surrounded by extensive connecting public transport infrastructure projects such as new bridges and new roads, and the area has seen the addition of modern hospitals, national and international schools, gymnasiums, a 5-star golf course, shopping malls, supermarkets, and other entertainment venues.Being located in a key growth area and near the Samdech Techo National Stadium along National Road 6A - WorldBridge Sport Village is a fantastic destination and investment for those looking to enter the property market who are looking to secure their first home, which will potentially a long-term generation property and asset.Sothavatey Mom, Country Manager for FazWaz Cambodia previously said of the area and the impact of the SEA Games; “The property market will benefit in the long-term - this will happen due to the exposure from the international media in the build-up to and during the Games and the international audience and visitors that are expected to attend in Cambodia including corporate sponsors.”Vatey added “Chroy Changvar should continue its growth momentum with low-rise developments for the next decade and along National Road N6. I think most purchases will be condos and office investments in the short term but in the long term, as the demand for people to live in the area beyond the stadium grows, there will be more diverse developments.”SEA Games 2023 ExcitementCurrently, the corporate construction and architecture teams are hard at work to complete the preparation of the development to ensure it will be ready for 2023 SEA Games, which is the perfect opportunity to enhance Cambodia’s image and as a potential investment destination on the regional and global stage.Despite the impacts of the pandemic, the real estate sector in Cambodia and the projected GDP of 4.5-5% in 2023 and rising in ensuing years in the Kingdom, offer plenty of optimism. Cambodia is ready to host the foremost major sporting event in its history when the SEA Games comes to these shores from May 5-17 2023, as well the 12th ASEAN Para Games, which are scheduled for June 2023. These are expected to attract more domestic and international visitors to the host cities as well as investors to this region.Vanguard Investment and Consultancy Services Co., Ltd (Cambodia) Managing Director, Harry Martin IV, whose company is the exclusive property agency for the WorldBridge Sport Village (WBSV) said: “I believe everyone in the region has adapted a ‘wait and see’ attitude over the last two years in terms of property investment or even any form of investment.  As we have witnessed, many countries have opened up, and we are confident that the market will make a turnaround in 2023. This expectation comes as most, if not all, of the countries in Asia are open again. The enticement of investing is still within many who see the potential opportunities. And Cambodia is definitely on top of that list with the various regional advantages it has to offer.”The capital will be the centre of attention for the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, especially the area around the Morodok Techo National Stadium which will be used for the opening and closing ceremonies. The recently held National Games which was used as a test of the facilities was a hit, and proud nationalism is brewing in anticipation of a milestone event for Cambodia.Find out more about World Bridge Sports Village here.

Phnom Penh, December 14th, 2022: Tanncam Investment Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-based private equity and venture capital firm, has invested in Digital Classifieds Group (DCG), an Australian-based company and leading operator of a portfolio of online real estate and general classified companies in frontier and emerging markets. DCG’s companies and brands include realestate.com.kh and FazWaz in Cambodia, hausples.com.pg and marketmeri in Papua New Guinea, yula.la in Laos, and property.com.fj in Fiji. Cambodian Investment Management acted as arranger and financial adviser on the transaction for Tanncam Investment Pte. Ltd.DCG Group CEO Mathew Care commented, “These are very exciting times for the group as our businesses have regained traction post-Covid, and we are experiencing strong and robust growth, as well as a substantial improvement in the fundamentals of our portfolio. We welcome Tanncam, a sophisticated, well-known, and established investor, as a shareholder and expect that they will successfully contribute to our future aspirations and strategic objectives.” Anthony Galliano, Director of Tanncam Investment Pte. Ltd. and CEO of Cambodian Investment Management, added, “We believe DCG has demonstrated a unique ability to enter emerging and frontier markets and create a dominant position in their space. We are investing in what we believe is a very promising future, a strong management team, and a successful portfolio ripe for growth. The company is on the precipice of amazing things to come, and we are happy to contribute to their journey.”  Anthony will serve on the board of Digital Classifieds Group (DCG), subject to regulatory approvals.Tanncam Investment Pte. Ltd.Is a Singapore based venture capital and private equity firm that focuses on early-stage start-ups and strategic investment opportunities.Digital Classifieds Group Founded in 2013, DCG operates a portfolio of the Asia Pacific’s leading & fastest-growing online real estate and general classified marketplaces. DCG identifies and corners dynamic early-stage markets by leveraging technology to redefine the value proposition for users and the businesses we work with. Our competitive advantage is our all-encompassing approach to solving our end-users needs and thereby delivering value to our clients.Cambodian Investment Management Co. Ltd. Is a Cambodian based corporate finance and business services firm. Founded in 2009, the company selectively acts as an arranger and financial adviser on mergers and acquisitions, due diligence and private equity transactions.  CONTACT INFORMATION:   Digital Classifieds Group Pty Ltd                                                   Tanncam Investment Pte. Ltd.Mathew Care CEO & Co-Founder                                                  Anthony Galliano+61 409 598 227                                                                              +85510902535mathew.care@hausples.com.pg                                                  anthonygalliano@tanncam.com

With the rise in tourism numbers and as we head into the traditional busy tourist season, there are also an increasing number of potential investors and property buyers venturing into Cambodia over the coming months. More airlines and more routes to Cambodia are being launched, and more investment potential as well as residual optimism around opportunities in the Kingdom following the high-profile ASEAN Summits recently held in Phnom Penh. The anticipated return of more foreign visitors is expected to boost significant demand and sales in the property market.There are already several excellent guides on better understanding property titles in Cambodia, for all buyers but for foreign investors or buyers, there are some limitations in what property can be purchased.The property title or ‘deed’ is the official document confirming who owns the property, its location, and what rights the property owner enjoys - it pays to carry out the necessary due diligence on this document - more than nearly any other legal paperwork when buying a property in the Kingdom.Hard Property Titles in CambodiaThere are broadly four types of Hard Titles to be aware of, and it should be noted that most are only available to Cambodian nationals - these titles contain comprehensive information regarding property ownership. There are key things foreign property owners/investors need to know about Cambodia.Hard Titles are also ownership certificates provided by the Land Department of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, and are the official recognition of property ownership in Cambodia. If there is a dispute where a Hard Title and a Soft Title exist, the owner of the Hard Title will likely win.Strata Titles The Strata Title is the only Hard Title that is applicable to foreigners. It is a common mistake and assumption that “foreigners cannot own a Hard Title in Cambodia” but many might not be aware that the Strata Title is legally considered a type of Hard Title.Strata Titles allow foreign nationals to fully own private units of co-owned residential or commercial (office) buildings in Cambodia, subject to certain procedures and criteria. This deed refers to the certificate of ownership of an individual unit in a co-owned building which could include: an office tower for commercial or residential purposes, a condominium building, or a mixed-use space within a co-owned condominium.Co-owned buildings are a building in which several owners reside and could consist of private units that are exclusively held by an individual owner and other spaces that are commonly owned (amenities like lounges, pools, and gyms).By Q4 2022, there are around 30,000 condo units in the capital in 100 buildings – this is expected to rise to 80,000 units by 2025.Because the Strata Title signifies the ownership of each unit under the same building/complex, foreigners can purchase a condo and own a Hard Title property.Foreigners are not allowed to own ground floor units in a co-owned building.At least 30% of a co-owned building must be owned by Cambodian nationals. (These conditions apply to buildings with strata titles registered after 2009.)Boreys are very popular in Cambodia but foreigners are prohibited to own landed property by the foreign ownership law in Cambodia - Boreys are considered landed property, so it is essentially prohibited from being owned by a non-Cambodian citizen.LMAP TitleAn LMAP title (Land Management and Administration Project) is the most secure form of Hard Title in Cambodia and these add GPS information lacking in traditional Hard titles. These geo-tagged points clearly define the coordinates of the property’s boundaries and indicate the plot borders that have been agreed upon between neighbouring parties and reduce the possibility of any disputes over the land. There are two sub-version of LMAP titles where the former does not have a QR code and the latter version comes with a scannable QR code.Feature Title This is the oldest form of ownership certificate for all types of property in Cambodia, including land or a house. It was issued and used during the 1980s-90s and a property that is built or older than 20 years should have a cooperating Hard Title.Some Feature Titles have already been replaced with the latest version of the LMAP Hard Title.Second Generation Hard Title This property title was introduced and used from the 2000s until the present day, although any property that applies for a Hard Title will now get the latest version of LMAP Hard Title. These Second Generation Hard Titles have a different design and appearance compared to the Feature Title and include additional details to verify the land or property.Soft  Property Titles In CambodiaThe Soft Title (considered a letter of possession) is not applicable to foreigners but there is some information worth knowing.The Soft Title in Cambodia is a form of customary ownership and the most prolific form of property title among Cambodians. Most Soft Titles are gradually being converted into Hard Titles, a process that has been ongoing for a number of years and is legally possible.Trust LawOwning a property in the form of a condo or office space that has Strata Title is the safest, most legal and most convenient means of property ownership for a foreigner in Cambodia. In January 2019, the government promulgated the Trust Law. This sets out rules to establish, register, and manage four types of trusts, and the Trust Law does give foreigners an opportunity to invest in land in Cambodia indirectly, with the title of the property to be held by a trust not the individual.A Trust company or a Trustee will thus be required; "a firm that holds and administers property or assets for the benefit of a third party. The role of a Trustee is important and choosing the right Trustee is essential to successful wealth preservation and peace of mind."By September 2022, the Trust Regulator (TR), indicated 52 trusts had been registered with the Regulator under the Trust Law.So if you are heading to these shores soon, Cambodia welcomes you as its fully open to business and investment, and if you are seeking to own a slice of the Kingdom of Wonder, please do have a broad idea of the legal, financial and regulatory frameworks in play.

One of the first condominium projects in Chamkarmon to open its doors to residents, Parc 21 Residence held its grand opening ceremony on Friday, the 9th of December, 2022. The project developer — JV Parc Residence Co., Ltd. — marked this auspicious occasion by providing a special 6% promotional discount to interested property seekers. Parc 21 Residence is located in the prime area of Boeung Trabek in Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh. The project embraces the Singaporean residential concept of “A City in a Garden”, which sees the use of smart spatial planning to create a comfortable living environment in the middle of a bustling and growing area. With a total of 128 residential units, it focuses on exclusivity, privacy, and comfort for its residents. The project features 4 different types of units: studio units, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, and penthouses — ranging from 37 to 211 square meters.The property’s amenities are all conveniently located on the rooftop deck on the 22nd floor. These include an infinity swimming pool, jacuzzi, gym/fitness center, and a skybar — all surrounded by a magnificent view of Phnom Penh city’s growing skyline.On the morning of the Grand Opening, Mrs. Pearl Yu, Executive Sales Director of Parc 21 Residence, expressed gratitude to all of the residents and partners, as well as highlighted the project’s journey to success: “Parc 21 has broken its ground in August 2019, with construction starting in February 2020 — just before the pandemic. Despite the pandemic, our project has gained popularity among local and expat buyers, as it offers a comfortable living environment and proves to be a good investment. After almost 3 years, we are finally here and are excited to welcome our residents! We would like to thank our buyers for their support and for making our project successful!” Learn more about Parc 21 Residence on realestate.com.kh, and contact us for a detailed consultation and a viewing! Looking for property in Phnom Penh? Let us help !

Join the Cambodia Real Estate Awards 2023 and be a part of one of the most prestigious real estate events of the year. With leading real estate professionals and developers in attendance, sponsors of our events are afforded the opportunity of engaging and networking with participants who invest billions of dollars in their businesses, developments and projects annually, and are continuously looking for new contracts, suppliers and related services.Sponsor the Cambodia Real Estate Awards 2023By sponsoring the Cambodia Real Estate Awards 2023 (CREA2023) companies will have their brand and name directly linked to this prestigious event. The mission of the CREA is to recognize the achievements of the Cambodian real estate industry objectively, without bias or undue influence and on a wholly inclusive basis. With limited sponsorship opportunities available, brands are proud to be associated with CREA.The awards will be available for real estate agencies, valuation firms, property management companies, developers and developments, nationwide. This will give recognition to your company in the real estate sector as it becomes a recognized brand among leading industry professionals.By directly associating your brand with this prestigious event you can benefit from our reach through our extensive pre and post-event advertising campaigns across multiple mediums. During the gala dinner brands will also benefit from logo and display exposure. There will also be a major digital component where the gala dinner will be broadcast across national television, streamed premier-live on the Cambodia Real Estate Awards Facebook page as well as core-partner Facebook pages including; realestate.com.kh, B2B Cambodia, Freshnews & more.If you are interested in entering the awards or becoming a sponsor of the Awards, please click on the link to the official website below, or find contact information below. Learn more about CREA 2023Key Contacts for Cambodia Real Estate Awards 2023Developers & Development Awards Entry Contacts:English & KhmerName: Ms. Annabelle Vong (Anna)Position: Event - Sales ManagerEmail: annabelle.vong@realestate.com.khPhone: +855 (0) 17 426 797Chinese:Name: Ms. Muyngy Taing (Muyngy)Position: CREA Developers & Development Entry Facilitator & REAKH Relationship ManagerEmail: muyngy.taing@realestate.com.khPhone: +855 (0) 10 723 379Agency Awards Entry Contacts:English & Khmer:Name: Ms. Sokphea Rorm (Phea)Position: CREA Agent Entry Facilitator & REAKH Relationship ManagerEmail: sokphea.rorm@realestate.com.khPhone: +855 (0) 81 921 707 / (0) 89 428 028 Chinese:Name: Ms. Muyngy Taing (Muyngy)Position: CREA Agent Entry Facilitator & REAKH Relationship ManagerEmail: muyngy.taing@realestate.com.khPhone: +855 (0) 10 723 379Cambodia Real Estate Awards - Sponsorship Contact:Name: Ms. Annabelle Vong (Anna)Position: Event - Sales ManagerEmail: annabelle.vong@realestate.com.khPhone: +855 (0) 17 426 797

The dramatic changes to the retail landscape of the main urban hubs in Cambodia are also seeing changing habits of the consumers, and the increase in the income and the number of HNWI (High Net Worth Individuals) are helping shape the retail planning and sprawl of the cities.New mall developments such as the Chip Mong Sen Sok Mall, Chip Mong 271 Mega Mall, Prince International Plaza, and AEON 3 are a small snapshot of the type of new shopping mall and customer experience that are springing up in the Kingdom.CBRE Cambodia Market Insights for Q3 2022 suggested that retail occupancy was around 70% and that brick-and-mortar retail outlets remain in strong demand, which is contrary to several developed city centres where many high street shops are in decline.In Cambodia, competition has also been heating up with grocery retail stores too. Franchises like 7-Eleven have quickly expanded in Cambodia and even Prince Supermarket is looking to radically grow and open more than 100 franchise stores by the end of 2023 and with 150 planned by the end of 2024 in a very competitive market.Makro has doubled down on its market capitalisation with its huge megastores, with plans to have as many as three locations in the capital (the most recently just opened in Chroy Changvar last month).Retailment in CambodiaThe latest reports from The Mall Company shed some insights on the growth of the retailment and leisure space in Cambodia - retailment is a combination of retail and entertainment. The concept aims to drive immersive experiences at retail centres to bolster foot traffic. In addition to standalone leisure destinations (minigolf, parks, immersive museums), there are a wide range of malls incorporating new Indoor & pool amusement parks, aquariums, or other tech-embracing amusement parks.The November 2022 Retail Insights - The Mall Company suggests:By Q3 2022, the existing supply of retailtainment-related trade in Phnom Penh reached 33,310 sqm.Cinemas in the capital now account for 78.4% of the total existing supply of retailtainment by Q3 2022 (26,101 sqm).Indoor playgrounds, indoor theme parks, arcades, and bowling centres occupied the next biggest areas of retail space in Phnom Penh.The Mall Company report also concludes that 77% of millennials prefer to spend on experiences over goods and 40% of Gen Z’s prefer to spend on experiences over goods.Simon Griffiths said of the latest report “AEON 1 is a traditional shopping mall format. AEON 2 went much further introducing ‘retailtainment’ as a core concept throughout the mall. With Aeon 3 launching shortly - watch out for AEON 3 going even further with this concept and taking the idea to a new level.” Of interest was the conclusion that “new performance metrics such as experiences per square meter will become more prevalent in the future” and that this space is still in its infancy locally but there is an expectation landlords will “raise their game” with regards to innovation and diversified offerings.Rise of the Malls in Phnom PenhThe rise of the malls in the capital, especially congregated in certain areas of the city have forced the development of new access and transport routes (infrastructure) and even are enticing urban housing developments to spring up in the vicinity.In the south of Phnom Penh, the Chip Mong Megamall 271 and Aeon 3 are both huge modern malls - with US$ 2.2 billion of investment being spent on public infrastructure - the area of the city is attracting large-scale real estate investments.The Retail Insights Edition 5 provides just one snapshot of this retail growth in the south of the capital which encompasses Meancheay and Dangkao districts. In summary, the area has seen:5 completed and open modern retail centres.3 modern retail centres are currently under development.1 modern retail centre is currently on hold.In total, 9 modern retail centres are expected by 2024.In the space of a few years, the amount of retail space has grown from around 10,000 sqm in 2019 and has reached 82,843 sqm in 2022. An expected additional 157,902 sqm of new retail supply is due to be added between 2023-2024. On the positive future outlook of the capital’s south, the report added: “Having a comparatively small supply of modern retail for many years, South Phnom Penh will see a substantial increase of modern retail space over the next two years. With the advent of major new retail centres, the Phnom Penh; south supply will increasingly outpace demand, creating a highly competitive retail landscape. With such significant increases in modern retail supply by 190.6% going forward into 2024. Downward pressures on retail rents will likely occur, especially for non-prime locations within existing and new retail projects.”Luxury Retail Set to ExpandThrow in the government’s re-assurances that the Kingdom will be a high middle-income country by 2030, as well as the enticing investment laws and good economic growth predicted, and there are also an increased number of HNWI (High Net Worth individuals). The Capgemini report in 2021 indicated Cambodia is now home to more than three thousand millionaires - retail and franchises also need to consider this shifting consumer wealth and dynamics.Food and beverage, and fashion remain the dominant market share expansion in Cambodia's retail growth.The Naga 3 complex continues its skyward development, but initial plans were for the site to also connect to the already existing underground and duty-free NagaCity Walk shopping mall which connects NagaWorld and NagaWorld 2 and offers several mid and luxury range brands.Local business and market partner Confluences also announced its partnering with luxury retail giant Bluebell and the consultancy CGHP Beespoke to launch the first French luxury market in Q1 2023 at The Peak - a shopping mall covering more than 12,000 m2. “Le Beau Marché Français - In the mood for Spring” is set to launch from March 17-26, 2023 and this is expected to be a precursor to the grand opening of the shopping centre scheduled for September 2023.Stepping outward with a view to regional headwinds and opportunities, Knight Frank in their Asia-Pacific Outlook 2023 sees the region as a bright spot and foresees that “across much of the region, growth momentum will continue to normalise”.There undoubtedly will be challenges and growing pains in Cambodia, but a more diverse, more consumer-conscious retail market, increasing expendable income, and developers and retail property owners keeping their fingers on the pulse of future tech and utilising immersive experiences all bode well for a retail scene that is expected to make massive leaps over the coming years.

Realestate.com.kh is proud to announce the fourth annual Cambodia Real Estate Awards (CREA 2023). The gala event will be held in April 2023, to recognize and celebrate outstanding results and achievements within the Cambodian Real Estate industry.CREA 2023 award categories are divided into the following disciplines in real estate:Real Estate Developer / Development AwardsReal Estate Agency AwardsReal Estate Hall Of Fame AwardsBENEFITS OF JOINING CREA 2023The Cambodia Real Estate Awards, is a prestigious event celebrating the best of the best in Cambodia's booming real estate sector. Joining the CREA 2023 allows agencies and developers to establish themselves as recognized and trustworthy members of the industry. Winners and nominees also get the following:Expose your brand & development to local & international buyers, homeowners & investorsJudged by respected leaders in the Cambodia real estate industry and the general publicEndorsed by the Ministry of Land Management & Urban Planning Endorsed by the Real Estate Regulator of CambodiaWinners receive the CREA iconic trophy & winners plaque to display in your office, showroom & at eventsWinners receive the official CREA seal to use on all marketing material for your developmentEnter the Cambodia Real Estate Awards 2023WHO CAN PARTICIPATEAll licensed firms and individuals are allowed to participate in CREA 2023, regardless of the size or wealth of their operation. With industry and government involvement from The Ministry of Land Management & Urban Planning, The Real Estate Regulator of Cambodia as well as The Cambodian Valuers & Estate Agents Association, participants can be sure that the process is objective, fair, and done with integrity from start to finish. All these steps are taken to recognize the achievements of the Cambodian real estate industry objectively, fairly, and on a wholly inclusive basis.HOW TO PARTICIPATETo participate in CREA 2023, please get in touch with our team or download the relevant submission form here.Benefits of ParticipatingFurther strengthen your position in the Cambodian real estate marketBe recognized as a leader in the Cambodian real estate industryNetwork with fellow professionals from Real EstateLearn more about new industry developmentsReceive an iconic Cambodia Real Estate Awards trophy and certificateReceive marketing assets to leverage across your businessInterested in learning more about CREA 2023? Visit our website at www.cambodiarealestateawards.comOr follow us on Facebook at ‘Cambodia Real Estate Awards’Enter the Cambodia Real Estate Awards 2023Key Contacts for Cambodia Real Estate Awards 2023Developers & Development Awards Entry ContactsEnglish & Khmer:Name: Ms. Annabelle Vong (Anna)Position: Event - Sales ManagerEmail: annabelle.vong@realestate.com.khPhone: +855 (0) 17 426 797Chinese:Name: Ms. Muyngy Taing (Muyngy)Position: CREA Developers & Development Entry Facilitator & REAKH Relationship ManagerEmail: muyngy.taing@realestate.com.khPhone: +855 (0) 10 723 379 Agency Awards Entry ContactsEnglish & Khmer:Name: Ms. Sokphea Rorm (Phea)Position: CREA Agent Entry Facilitator & REAKH Relationship ManagerEmail: sokphea.rorm@realestate.com.khPhone: +855 (0) 81 921 707 / (0) 89 428 028 Chinese:Name: Ms. Muyngy Taing (Muyngy)Position: CREA Agent Entry Facilitator & REAKH Relationship ManagerEmail: muyngy.taing@realestate.com.khPhone: +855 (0) 10 723 379 Cambodia Real Estate Awards - Sponsorship ContactName: Ms. Annabelle Vong (Anna)Position: Event - Sales ManagerEmail: annabelle.vong@realestate.com.khPhone: +855 (0) 17 426 797