EuroCham Cambodia
Ahead of EuroCham’s Committee elections in September, we are speaking with leadership from our 12 Sectoral Committees to learn a bit more about the positions and the people behind them.
This week, we sat down with Ross Wheble, Vice-Chairperson of EuroCham’s Real Estate and Construction Committee and Country Head of Knight Frank Cambodia, about what drew him to sectoral advocacy, the committee’s most meaningful achievements, and his role in Cambodia’s landmark adoption of the Eurocodes.
EC: You’ve been a part of Cambodia’s real estate sector for years as country head of an international firm operating in the nation’s fast-changing business environment. What inspired you to join EuroCham’s Real Estate & Construction Committee? Were there any specific moments that sparked your interest in sectoral advocacy?
Ross: Advocacy is exactly what inspired me to join the Real Estate & Construction Committee. When I first read EuroCham’s White Book and saw the policy recommendations on real estate, I was motivated to become an active member of the committee. Coming from the UK, which is a mature and highly regulated market, there is limited impact as a real estate professional to shape industry policy. Working with EuroCham, we have government dialogue at the highest level, and being able to have a positive impact on driving forward industry standards in Cambodia is highly rewarding.
EC: After years of sustained dialogue with the government through the Real Estate & Construction Committee, Cambodia has recently adopted a set of select Eurocodes for the construction sector. Can you give a quick breakdown of what Eurocodes are and how you hope they can impact the sector? How does it feel to have played a part in this important effort?
Ross: The Eurocodes are a set of 10 standards that structural design in the European Union must comply with. Eurocodes exist to give a single, consistent, safety-verified basis for structural design to ensure the highest standards of construction quality and safety. Adopting a recognised construction code will improve the overall quality of construction in Cambodia, improve planning transparency, give more investor confidence and help to attract foreign direct investment. Whilst the process took time, to see this recommendation being implemented by the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia gives tremendous satisfaction.
EC: Are there any other achievements or events from your committee tenure that you are particularly proud of?
Ross: Our signature events, such as The Tall Building Forum and the Real Estate & Construction Forum, are highly regarded and well attended by both Cambodian and overseas attendees. Being involved in the planning and coordination of these events is another rewarding aspect of working with EuroCham’s RECC.
The REC Committee has been one of the most active committees within EuroCham, with strong engagement from members and stakeholders. What do you believe are the key factors that have contributed to this success, and could you share some of the best practices or approaches that have helped your committee maintain such high levels of engagement?
Ross: With the real estate and construction sector representing a key contributor to Cambodia’s GDP growth, many regional and global stakeholders are active in the market.
Alongside the sector’s significant role in the broader economy, EuroCham’s strong standing on advocacy, as well as our informative and engaging signature events, underpin the success we have achieved to-date.
