Press Releases

GHF today announced the inauguration of a Cambodian Corporate Council to fund conservation and community development at the tentatively listed Unesco World Heritage Site of Prasat Banteay Chhmar. This announcement comes shortly after the recognition by USAID of Banteay Chhmar’s Community Based Tourism Organisation as a “Hidden Treasure” of Cambodia.

GHF’s Cambodian Corporate Council
The Cambodian Corporate Council is a groundbreaking alliance between private sector companies based in Cambodia and GHF, and has been inaugurated by its founder members – Acleda Bank Plc., Brocon Group, Cellcard - CamGSM, Envotech Cambodia Ltd., and Sciaroni Associates.

Jeff Morgan, Executive Director of GHF, praised the inaugural members’ dedication and looked ahead to the future needs of the site which GHF and the Cambodian Corporate Council could take on together.
“The support of USAID for Community-Based Tourism of Bantaey Chhmar is a welcome development, we look forward to the growing partnerships with corporations and the international community to build the needed support, in the millions of dollars, needed to make BC the next UWH Site of Cambodia.”

Mr. Bretton G. Sciaroni of Sciaroni Associates, who serves as Advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia, Legal Advisor to the British Ambassador in Cambodia, Chairman of the Cambodian American Chamber of Commerce, and Chairman of the International Business Club, welcomed the initiative.

“After having made outstanding presentations to groups organized by the US Embassy, the British Business Association of Cambodia, and other interested groups, I can tell you that the entire private sector is excited about this project. We are all convinced of the importance of the work of the Global Heritage Fund at this most significant historical site. This project will help save and restore a temple complex that is most important for Cambodia’s cultural heritage.”

The Cambodia Corporate Council will be open to new members until August 2010, following which there will be a plaque erected at the site and a reception held at the British Ambassador’s residence in Phnom Penh to announce the major corporate sponsors for the Banteay Chhmar Conservation Project.

GHF celebrates “Hidden Treasures” Award for Banteay Chhmar
Participants from the tour operator sector, provincial departments of tourism and community ecotourism projects gathered on Monday to raise the awareness of secondary tourism destinations in Cambodia, to encourage tourists to take their revenues ‘off the beaten path’.

The awards ceremony, part of the “Hidden Treasures Cambodia” initiative, organized by the USAID Cambodia Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Project, marks the recognition of the six winners of the contest, assessed on a number of criteria including environmental and social sustainability, attractiveness, accessibility, and marketability.

Mr. Curtis Hundley, Chief of Party for USAID’s Cambodia MSME Project, said of the awards that, “Cambodia has achieved world fame in the tourism arena, and with that, large visitor increases year on year. The economic growth opportunities from tourism have the potential to provide income and job opportunities for all Cambodians, particularly in the secondary or provincial destinations where the incidence of poverty is its highest. This Awards Ceremony is the first step in raising the awareness of these secondary destinations as the next ‘must see’ places to visit in Cambodia”.

GHF’s Coordinator for Community Based Tourism in Banteay Chhmar, Mr. Tath Sophal, celebrated the awards and praised the work of the entire organisation and the Commune of Banteay Chhmar, “CBT is becoming a strong organisation thanks to the hard work of its members and the support of our partners.”

Contact details:
James Hooper
Global Heritage Fund – UK Manager
+44 (0)7970 034 535
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

About Global Heritage Fund
Global Heritage Fund is an international heritage conservancy dedicated to preserving endangered world heritage sites in developing regions and thereby improving lives of local people. Global Heritage Fund deploys a well-proven “Preservation by Design” approach, which consists of: 1) comprehensive master planning, 2) sustained preservation through local community involvement, 3) excellence in scientific conservation, and 4) partnerships for matched funding.
http://www.globalheritagefund.org

About USAID MSME Project
The USAID Cambodia MSME Project is a gift to Cambodia from the American People. It is implemented by Development Alternatives, Inc., and a consortium of supportive partners that possess the skills and understanding of the Cambodian business environment and are dedicated to improving the lives of thousands of rural Cambodian businesses.
http://www.cambodiamsme.org