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Articles by Robin Spiess
Fintech Law In Southeast Asia
To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq.com. The adoption of financial technology, or fintech, solutions has grown rapidly across Southeast Asia in recent years. As increasing numbers of consumers enjoy uninterrupted connections to online services through mobile phones and other devices, both new and existing financial service providers have introduced technological innovations that make it easier for their customers to manage their financial activities.
The Craze in Cambodia's Casino
A Chinese man in his mid-twenties sits slouched behind a wobbly-legged table at the casino entrance, playing a game on his smartphone. The casino isn’t large, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in strangled opulence. The beige stucco facade is thick with gold filigree, mirrored windows and a glowing sign, written in towering Chinese characters, announcing: “The God of Wealth Company International”.
How Cambodia can make the most of China's millions
In late April, the second annual Belt and Road Forum saw world leaders convene in Beijing for three days’ worth of panels and speeches about the success and potential of China’s hundreds of funding projects in Asia, South America, Africa and beyond. Shovel in hand, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen dug a hole in the green fields near the forum’s convention hall, planting a tree – a symbol of China’s and Cambodia’s continued mutual growth.
How green technology is fuelling Cambodia’s eco-friendly flying
Let’s talk about going “green” – a hot topic for all airlines. What efforts has Emirates made to reduce overall impact on the environment? Emirates takes the environment very seriously. We have developed an environmentally friendly aircraft cleaning technique that enables the airline to save millions of litres of water every year.
Cambodia's top contemporary artists hope to break new ground
Southeast Asian art has historically been steeped in religious and cultural imagery, and the Kingdom is no exception. In Cambodia, attention in the art community is often paid to the preservation of ancient art forms: the apsara dance is performed at schools across the country, traditional tattoo artists hold tightly to their craft and most paintings that decorate the walls of homes and stores are iterations of the stone faces and lush forests characteristic of the Kingdom’s temples.
Cambodia and Myanmar’s rice farmers under pressure
Rice farmers across Cambodia and Myanmar have been left scrambling for new markets for their crop after the European Union announced on Wednesday that it will now be imposing hefty tariffs on long-grain Indica rice from both Southeast Asian nations for the next three years beginning today. The decision, announced by the European Commission this week, follows a month-long investigation that confirmed the increase in Indica imports from Cambodia and Myanmar has been damaging to EU rice producers.
Go-Jek prepares to launch in Grab's home territory
In May, Go-Jek announced that it would be undertaking a $500m international expansion that would see its services offered across Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The company moved to Vietnam first, launching Go-Viet services in Ho Chi Minh in August and in Hanoi in September.
More flooding to come in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is likely to see an increase in flooding for the next several decades that could dampen economic growth, increase levels of poverty and leave more people at risk of potentially deadly disease, according to information gathered by the United Nations (UN), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank.
Chinese theme park offends with Angkor replica
As calming music plays, visitors walk down a cobblestone pathway lined with perfectly-spaced palm trees and gold lamps, posing for pictures along the way. A triple-towered temple looms in the distance: its rooftop is decorated with images of the seven-headed mythical serpent naga, and its entryway is manned by carvings of temple guardians armed with lances and clubs.
Okra Solar's technology could bring clean energy to the world
More than a billion people currently live where they do not have access to any electrical grid. For those people, the use of solar technology is one of the most attractive means of powering their households – but standalone solar home systems can be inefficient and unreliable, with up to 50% of their harnessed energy at times wasted.
A glimpse of the future as markets for virtual reality and augmented reality tech expand
A history lesson that becomes an immersive walk through a long-lost city; a business presentation that transports you to a time when a proposed project is completed; or an event where, instead of staring at a screen, participants see a digital world assembled before their eyes. With this vision of the future shared by enthusiasts of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) across the globe, the technology could soon sweep the region.
Southeast Asia Globe Magazine
ABA Mobile app goes above and beyond to provide ABA Bank customers with inimitable access and options that put them in total control of their own finances and future – all from the comfort of their smartphones
How blockchain technology could revolutionise microfinance in Cambodia
With the rise of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Cambodia, microfinancing is more accessible than ever. But the industry remains plagued with high interest rates, and borrowers can find themselves paying back more on their microloans than they bargained for. A small four-man team of tech-enthusiasts believe they might have an answer to cutting interest rates on microloans across the Kingdom: a decentralised loan system backed by blockchain technology.
Grab announces launch of new 'superapp'
In addition to providing its longstanding ride-hailing services, Grab is also offering on-demand food, package delivery, cashless payments, financial services and grocery delivery on a brand new app that launched in Singapore and Indonesia this week. “When we first launched, we were built for one purpose: to bring people safely from point A to point B,” said Grab co-founder Anthony Tan at the official launch of the new Grab app and platform. “But our mission evolved.
Cambodia attractive market for luxury European brands and construction companies
Hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, the event has proven especially effective in drawing European construction companies and luxury brands that are attracted to local markets due to the Kingdom’s consistent economic growth. One such company, Eurasia Concept, imports and sells luxury European-brand furniture and decor in Southeast Asia.
Vietnam's new cybersecurity law deemed 'human rights abuse'
The law, which was passed by a 91% majority of voting legislators, will require international technology corporations – including Facebook and Google – to open offices in the country and store locals’ “important” personal data. The law also requires that social media companies remove offensive content from their platforms within a day of receiving notice from Vietnamese authorities.
One of Cambodia's brightest entrepreneurs talks tech, startups and cryptocurrencies
You established Cambodia’s first coworking space several years ago. How has this project changed over time? I established SmallWorld, which started out as a coworking space, in 2011. At first, it was a venture that aimed to provide office space for early-stage startups and businesses in Cambodia. We are open to all startups from around the world, to anyone who is interested in coming to Cambodia and drawing investment here. Drawing this foreign interest is important.
Business Insider: A growing company growing careers
Tourism is on the rise in Cambodia, and the hospitality industry is growing to accommodate it. The Post’s Robin Spiess sat down with Phal Leakhena, general manager of Cambodia’s hotel and restaurant company Almond Group, to discuss the group’s growth and the challenges it has faced over the past decade. How has the Almond Group expanded since you began working with the company? I joined Almond Group in 2007, and during that time it only had one outlet.
KrisEnergy to up investment plans for drawing oil next year
KrisEnergy plans to produce oil from Cambodia’s offshore Block A oil deposit next year and forecasted an investment of more than $30 million in the country this year, according to its 2017 annual report. The Singapore-based energy company secured a petroleum licence for Block A from the Cambodian government in August last year, allowing it to pull oil from the 3,083-square-kilometre plot in the Gulf of Thailand.
New Phnom Penh space is no ordinary factory
About a kilometre south of the Monivong Bridge along National Road 2, an old garment factory has been renovated and transformed into Cambodia’s newest and most ambitious co-working space. “In early 2017, we were given access to this old factory and asked to make something entirely new,” said Corbett Hix, who manages the 17-building compound known as the Factory.
Business Insider: The group lending a hand to young entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship is a trendy word in Phnom Penh these days, and local business owners still face challenges when it comes to setting up their own companies. The Post’s Robin Spiess sat down with Kitty Ly, vice president of the Phnom Penh branch of the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Cambodia, to discuss the challenges for local startups and the growing interest in entrepreneurship among young Cambodians.
More ways to shop, dine, chill and fly
With Cambodia’s three international airports welcoming a greater number of flights and a heavier flow of foot traffic, the company managing the airports has been busy expanding their retail, culinary and lounge portfolio to give passengers even more options to shop, dine or relax before their flight.
Local startup competition won by Myanmar company
Technology startups gathered in Phnom Penh on Wednesday to pitch their business models and vie for a singular spot in a prestigious regional competition. The Echelon Top 100 Cambodia Qualifiers, hosted by local telecommunications company Smart Axiata and tech media platform e27, was held to shine a spotlight on Cambodia’s tech scene and the competition’s organisers stressed the importance of the event for promoting Cambodian startups on a regional scale.
Local firm Arc sees potential in 3D-printing tech
As the white, cube-shaped machine begins to whir at the front of the room, a metal arm can be seen jerking back and forth through the box’s transparent front-facing panel. The robotic mechanism whirs as it works, and onlookers watch as the 3D printer creates a small figurine of a dinosaur out of melted plastic. “I want to know how to design and print something like this,” said one student, hoisting a different 3D-printed figure of a skeleton mask in the air.
Chinese Embassy creates Facebook page in Cambodia
The Chinese Embassy in Cambodia's official Facebook page finally made its first post on Sunday with an announcement about a Chinese-funded health project. Sporting a fuzzy photo of the two nations’ flags as its profile picture, the first activity on the page was on March 28, when a cover photo was uploaded. Sunday marked the first time the page shared a status update, a post in Khmer announcing the operation of 20 mobile clinics in the Cambodian countryside funded by Chinese aid.
Startup navigates tricky route
As Cambodia’s young entrepreneurs seek to harness technology to achieve success, they could benefit from taking a look at local ride-booking service BookMeBus. The Post’s Hor Kimsay sat down with the company’s 28-year-old founder, Chea Langda, to talk about his personal journey and the technology startup sector in the Kingdom. What was your major at university, and what did you do before running your own business?
Report shows China demand will fuel growth of rice exports
Cambodia’s rice production and exports will likely continue to grow this year and next year despite low milling rates, buoyed by strong demand from China, according to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In the report released last week, the USDA forecasted a 4 percent year-over-year increase in rice production during the 2017-2018 harvest seasons, estimating the total haul at 8.1 million tonnes.
Phnom Pehn Economic Zone to diversify amid years of falling revenue
After years of falling revenue at the Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone (SEZ), board members at a Friday meeting urged greater diversification in income sources in the upcoming year in an effort to shore up profits.
Cambodia telecom companies urged to pay overdue regulatory fees
The government has issued a new warning to telecommunications companies that have yet to deliver outstanding payments to the Kingdom’s ministries, giving regulators until the end of the month to settle their debts. Cambodia’s telephone operating companies have been told “to settle any debts” owed to each of the two ministries by April 30, according to an announcement dated April 2 that was jointly released by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications.
Australian mining company discovers gold, silver deposits in northern Cambodia
Australia-based mining company Geopacific Resources has confirmed the discovery of gold and silver deposits at its drilling site in northern Cambodia, according to a company release on the Australian stock exchange. Geopacific announced on Wednesday that a new zone of gold and silver deposits was discovered at its Prospect 118 site at the company's Kou Sa project in Preah Vihear province – the second such find this year after another discovery was announced in January.
World Bank forecasts strong growth barring major disruptions
Cambodia’s economy is expected to grow by 6.9 percent this year according to a report issued by the World Bank, while the report’s authors also acknowledged that several national and global risks could disrupt their prediction.
Poipet SEZ signs first lease to Japan firm
Japanese firm Sumitronics signed a lease to become the first tenant at the Poipet Special Economic Zone, which was established as a subsidiary of the publicly listed Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone (PPSEZ) in 2014. The electronics firm leased a 1-hectare plot of land in the zone, moving its manufacturing operation 8 kilometres outside the border town of Poipet in Banteay Meanchey province, where it had been located since 2016.
Officials praise ride app merger despite anti-competition fears
In the days following the announcement that ride-hailing giant Uber was selling its Southeast Asia assets to regional competitor Grab, regulators and government officials across the region took action to ensure the move wouldn’t hurt competition in the sector. Regulators in the Philippines and Singapore, where Grab is based, launched anti-trust investigations, while Malaysian officials said they would follow suit.
Free online e-book library for kids announced
The Asia Foundation announced a three-year partnership with telecommunications operator Smart Axiata on Monday to create a digital library of Khmer-language children’s books to be published online for free. According to Meloney Lindbergh, country representative for the US-based Asia Foundation, the e-books will encourage literacy and promote important themes, including female empowerment.
Business Insider: Years of experience pay off for job site
The Cambodian economy continues to grow, and as it does, the number of available jobs is increasing. But it’s not always easy to match viable candidates with positions in their preferred industries. The Post’s Robin Spiess sat down with Ken White, founder of local jobs platform BongThom, to discuss recent changes to the platform and the importance of encouraging job access as a tool for empowerment. You established BongThom in July 2000. How has it changed and grown over the past 18 years?
Donaco wins injunction over Poipet casino dispute
Australian-based casino operator Donaco International Ltd announced on Tuesday that it had been awarded an injunction to freeze shares held by three Thai vendors of its Star Vegas casino business, located in the Cambodian border town of Poipet The injunction, ordered by the Supreme Court of New South Wales, restrains the defendants from selling their 148 million Donaco shares – representing about 18 percent of the company’s total shares – until an ongoing arbitration in Singapore finishes.
A sector too big to fail?
Cambodia’s garment sector is the backbone of the country’s export-driven economy and employs 86 percent of all factory workers. But the sector faces threats from increasingly competitive regional neighbours, the inevitable shift to automation and the potential loss of preferential trade agreements. The stakes couldn’t be higher for the country’s economy.
Mekong summit sees $66B worth of projects agreed to
Six countries pledged to enact $66 billion worth of projects over the next five years at the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit in Hanoi on Saturday, with Cambodia-specific projects scheduled to receive the least amount of funding of any participant.
Belt and Road could bring risks for Cambodia debt
China’s financing of Belt and Road Initiative projects in Cambodia could lead to increased debt distress, according to a recent analysis, though the Kingdom’s low overall debt makes it unlikely to default in the near future. According to a policy paper released by the Center for Global Development, Cambodia will likely see a significant rise in debt to China as a result of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Uber sells Southeast Asia assets to rival Grab
Grab announced on Monday that it has officially acquired rival Uber’s Southeast Asia operations, including all ride-hailing services in Cambodia, just three months after the Singapore-based ride-hailing company launched in the Kingdom. US-based Uber will take a 27.5 percent stake in Grab and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi will join Grab's Board of Directors as part of the acquisition. Founded in Malaysia in 2012, Grab now operates in eight Southeast Asian countries.
Grab tests tuk-tuk market in capital
Grab has officially launched its motorbike taxi service and started beta testing a tuk-tuk and rickshaw service in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, according to a press release issued by the company on Friday. Grab Bike, which has been in beta testing for nearly two months in Phnom Penh’s central districts, launched full services in the capital on Friday, making Grab the first major ride-hailing platform to offer motorbike taxi services in the Kingdom.
Virtual reality tech catching the eyes of local businesses
Giant pink jellyfish float within arm’s reach as schools of migrating fish dart past. Suddenly, a giant blue whale – mouth agape and teeming with krill – surges into view. “I like this game, it’s just really peaceful,” says Ea Saraboth, the founder of Virtual Reality Cambodia. “The whale is to-scale, too.” Wearing a headset that includes goggles and headphones, Saraboth’s own senses are immersed in the underwater environment.
Cambodian duo’s Eco-Plastic takes second in Bhutan startup challenge
A pair of female Cambodian entrepreneurs placed second in a regional business competition on Saturday, beating out university teams from six countries with their startup idea – called Eco-Plastic – that could utilise Cambodia’s plastic waste to pave cheaper, more durable roads. The Mekong Business Challenge (MBC), an annual competition that launched in Phnom Penh 12 years ago, welcomed 11 entrepreneurial teams from six nations at their contest held in Bhutan last week.
IMF gives nod to Kingdom reforms
Staff from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released a statement on Saturday encouraging Cambodia to continue undertaking reforms that the international financing body recommended in August last year. The statement praises the economy’s strong growth rate and overall health, while also calling for more attention to be paid to looming fiscal risks. It follows a weeklong trip by IMF staff to the Kingdom and does not represent the official views of the body’s executive board.
The future of cashless systems in a cash-based economy
In a country where most people are paid in cash and the majority of businesses are cash-only, cashless payment platforms can appear out of place. But that hasn’t stopped a number of digital payment companies from putting up impressive growth numbers in Cambodia, and the sector has continued to expand in the past few years. One such company is Pi Pay, a smartphone application that allows you to either link your bank account to the service or top-up with cash at digital kiosks.
Grab setting wheels in motion for victory in ride-hailing fight
Following reports that Uber plans to sell some of its Southeast Asia assets to Grab, the strategies and experiences of the two ride-hailing applications in Cambodia reveal differences in the pairs’ approaches to new markets. News of the sale has been rumoured for months, but Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal have reported in recent weeks that the two companies have agreed in principle to a deal that would transfer most of Uber’s regional operations to Grab.
Business Insider: Ticketing startup plans route for growth
Cambodia’s home-grown tech scene has increasingly faced competition from international players. The Post’s Robin Spiess sat down with Shivam Tripathi, co-founder of online ticketing platform CamboTicket, to discuss his firm’s regional expansion plans and how he seeks to cooperate rather than compete with other companies. What services does CamboTicket offer, and why did you choose to launch this startup in Cambodia? Camboticket is a travel ticketing platform.
Uncertainty over future of cryptocurrencies in Cambodia
Mining machines at work at Bitmain, a bitcoin farm in Dalad Banner, Mongolia, on August 11. Giulia Marchi/The New York Times On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An stood in front of a conference hall in Phnom Penh to give the opening remarks for the launch of a new cryptocurrency, Entapay, encouraging the company to follow relevant laws in Cambodia. But crypto enthusiasts in the Kingdom say that’s easier said than done.
Blockchain event fails to deliver on title
The Asean Blockchain Summit, notably lacking participation from citizens of Asean, was held yesterday at the Sokha Hotel in Phnom Penh, where hundreds of Chinese attendees gathered to hear speeches on cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology delivered in Mandarin. News of the summit reached the international media this past week after a press release from Entapay, the firm hosting the event, hinted that Cambodia would soon be launching a national cryptocurrency.
Cambodia’s ride hailing apps have few women on board
The ride-hailing industry employs thousands of drivers in Cambodia, but a survey of the four largest firms revealed that less than a dozen of those drivers are women, while none of the companies had undertaken specific programs to train or recruit female drivers. Executives justified the lack of female representation in their workforce by noting that women don’t like to work in the sun, don’t like lifting heavy things and prefer teaching to driving.
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