Harrison White
American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (AmCham) has hosted its 5th annual flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) awards selecting five winning companies in three categories out of 26 members that nominated.
Hosted at the Raffless Hotel in Phnom Penh the dinner was attended by more than 50 guests and was sponsored by Metphone and Pernod Ricard.
Strong growth in member nominations
Launching the event Mr. Travis Mitchell, AmCham Executive Director commented the chamber now consisted of 236 members now, the largest we’ve ever been adding at the last CSR Awards it had 165 members, a more than 40% increasing.
Read more: AmCham CSR awards highlight ‘citizens in spirit’ approach towards 2021
“We are the most active we have ever been, with several events per month. While this year, we added three new advocacy committees, including a new CSR Committee which you will hear about later,” Travis said.
“AmCham has done these awards for the last five years, and it’s astonishing to see the growth. This year we had 26 companies who applied. Last year there was 18 and the year before around 10. As a proud supporter of CSR activities, AmCham Cambodia is by far the most active chamber when it comes to CSR as Anthony will explain,” he added.
For the 2022 awards the AmCham board selected three categories of Social impact, Financial inclusion and Environmental impact. In addition the awards were divided the categories into large organizations (50+ employees), small employees (less than 50), and NGO if they went above and beyond.
“The judges at times had an extraordinarily difficult task and sometimes could not decide between two organizations. Thus, some categories may have multiple winners,” Travis added.
The AmCham 2022 CSR Award winners and runners up:
Social Impact
- Large Organizations the runner ups were Manulife Cambodia and AIA Cambodia the winner was RMA Cambodia
- Small Organizations the runner-up was Pernod Ricard Cambodge and the winner was Sethalay Law Office
- NGO Category Cambodian Children’s Fund was the winner
Financial Inclusion
- Large Organizations the runner-ups were Visa Cambodia and Prudential Cambodia Life Assurance and the winner was ABA Bank
Environmental Impact
- Large Organizations the runner-up was Manulife Cambodia and Cambrew Ltd. was the winner
Assisting the community through financial inclusion
ABA Bank explained to Cambodia Investment Review their winning project was the ‘Empowering Indigenous Minority through Financial Literacy’ – a financial literacy program conducted by ABA Bank and the Angkor Gold Company.
“The program is designed to develop the knowledge and skills of indigenous communities in Ratanakiri province to grow their economies and finance wisely and healthily and offers all participants essential financial skills such as long-term planning, household budgeting, debt and repayment management, and managing daily budgets and investments,” an ABA spokespersons said.
Ms. Ivana Tranchini, Visa Country Manager for Cambodia, added that Financial literacy was a fundamental skill that helps people to live life to the full and achieve their ambitions.
“Visa is a great believer in the power of information and knowledge, especially in today’s digital economy. Visa appreciates being recognized in the AmCham’s CSR Excellence Awards – Financial Inclusion category for our financial and digital literacy, and economic empowerment initiatives in partnership with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the Association of Banks in Cambodia,” she said.
Read more: ‘Alternative data’ provides a solution to widening financial inclusion in Cambodia
“We encourage consumers, students and entrepreneurs to access the free resources available in our global education programs – Visa’s Practical Money Skills and Practical Business Skills platform – to take control of their finances and businesses,” she added.
Building a better Cambodia for the future generations
Daren Ong, the Managing Director of Pernod Ricard Cambodge, has empathizes that ’valuing people is one of core commitments of Pernod Ricard’s Sustainability and Responsibility roadmap 2030. With bartenders being a vital partner in sharing our spirit of conviviality with consumers.
“The Bar World of Tomorrow” campaign, a global initiative that inspires and supports the hospitality industry towards sustainable and responsible practices, aims to educate, empower and encourage bartenders to actively contribute in protecting the environment, even from their workplaces, ultimately building a better Cambodia for the future generations’’.
Pernod Ricard Cambodge, therefore, aims to provide training to at least 30 bartenders by May 2022 to establish a sustainable and responsible bar culture in Cambodia and raise awareness across the hospitality industry, and especially amongst bartenders.
RMA Cambodia added that its has carried out a project that will last for decades to come and that will make a long-term impact on our community.
“Through our project, we have renovated and built training facilities, donated new model vehicles and spare parts for the purpose of learning, and developed essential skillsets by providing technical training programs with an exceptional and advanced curriculum designed by FORD-certified trainers/technicians to meet the needs of the emerging labor market,” RMA Cambodia spokesperson said.
“Our CSR campaigns center around the company’s mission, vision and value. As a company, RMA Cambodia has committed to make a meaningful impact and contribution to society through different means,” they added.
Founded in 1996, AmCham supports, advocates and promotes forward-looking Public and Private Sector collaborations that contribute to the regional and global advancement of the Cambodian business environment, professional development, and technological innovation in the overall achievement of meaningful, diversified economic growth.
