Kith Meng

Kith Meng (born 1968), Chairman of The Royal Group, is arguably "Cambodia's most prominent business leader",[1] majority owning Cambodia's leading television and telecommunications networks, Cambodian Broadcasting Corporation and CamGSM.[2] Described by Forbes Magazine as "ruthless" yet "genuine",[3] the CEO of ANZ Royal Bank Dean Cleland has also described Meng as a "tough, real rags to riches story".[4] Meng is known for his open economic thinking, stating, "I [make joint ventures] with international companies, not Cambodian ones",[5] and in this particular regard has been likened to Dr Mark Mobious.

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Cambodia to Thailand to Australia

Forced from their Kandal home by the Khmer Rouge in 1975, Meng, his parents and his older brother were marched into a labour camp. Upon arrival, Meng and his brother Thieng, now vice-president of The Royal Group, were separated from their parents, who later starved.[6] With his older brother by his side, however, Meng escaped to Phnom Penh, which they then departed for Thailand. In Thailand, Meng states, “they put us in a pig farm... we slept with the pigs... we no longer existed; we had no state, nothing."[6] In 1980, however, Meng and Thieng were found by a fellow family member in a Thai refugee camp, and both brothers immigrated to Australia, where they worked and schooled in the nation's capital, Canberra.

Returning from Australia to Cambodia

In 1991 Meng and Thieng returned to Cambodia, selling furniture and office supplies to the UN, and operating a Canon copiers franchise, before establishing The Royal Group.[6] Now, Meng is President of Cambodia's Chamber Of Commerce, and carries the honorary title of "Neak Oknha", conferred upon him by the Royal Family.

Politics

Meng's ascent has seen commentators compare him to other well-known Asian tycoons such as Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew and Thailand's Thaksin Shinawatra.[5] However Meng's downplayed suggestions he one day stand for the Prime Ministership, saying, "leave politics to the politicians".[6] Still, Meng often accompany's Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen abroad to help promote Cambodia's economic interests.[6]

References

  1. ^ Lee, Yoolim (27 August 2008). Pol Pot Victims From Killing Fields Plan Resorts by Angkor Wat Bloomberg. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  2. ^ Crispin, Shawn W (1 September 2007). "The rise and rise of a Cambodian capitalist". Asia Times. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/II01Ae01.html. Retrieved 1 July 2011. 
  3. ^ Gluckman, Ron (2 November 2008). "Bringing Commerce to Cambodia". Forbes Magazine. http://www.forbes.com/global/2008/0211/030.html. Retrieved 1 July 2011. 
  4. ^ Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (2 November 2004). "Media release: ANZ to develop banking joint venture with Cambodia's Royal Group" (PDF). http://www.anz.com/resources/2/a/2ad4a6804d2fac108d58bd766a918285/ANZ-MediaRelease-20041102.pdf. Retrieved 1 July 2011. 
  5. ^ a b Minder, Raphael Minder (17 August 2008). "Cambodia's Transforming Tycoon". Financial Times. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/d5d38cdc-6ac6-11dd-b613-0000779fd18c.html#axzz1QjqMMsSF. Retrieved 1 July 2011. 
  6. ^ a b c d e Powell, Sian (21 March 2011). "Royal Connections". The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/royal-connections/story-e6frgabx-1226025478119. Retrieved 1 July 2011. 

External links