WIth the Kingdom’s annual economic growth standing at seven percent, investors from the hospitality industry are showing interest in Cambodia. But hotels, malls and commercial spaces are pushing demand for a high-quality water supply and pumps to go along with them.
In Singapore, The Post’s Hor Kimsay talked to Tan Chee Meng, regional business director of Water Utility at Grundfos, a Denmark-based water pump manufacturer, and asked about how Cambodia’s water infrastructure has grown along with its exploding hospitality sector.
How long have you been selling your products in the Cambodian market, and how has it changed so far
Grundfos established a presence in Cambodia more than 10 years ago and is today one of the leading pump manufacturers in the country. We have a sales representative in the country and our authorised partners – Sun Hour Company and DEMEP Co Ltd – focus on domestic building services, and water utility services, respectively.
What can you say about Grundfos’s sales and revenue in Cambodia in 2017? What is your expectation for 2018?
Grundfos has experienced an average of 10 to 15 percent growth annually in Cambodia over the past two years.
This can be attributed to an increase in demand for high-quality premium pumps and pump solutions, with growing affluence and emphasis on quality in the country. We expect to see this double-digit growth continue into 2018.
What products are mostly sold in Cambodia?
In terms of our commercial building offerings, we have seen a demand for water booster sets that distribute water to consumers with the required pressure. Recently, we just completed a project for UCB Bank in partnership with Lotus Green – the local project contractor to whom we supplied various types of pumps for applications such as water transfer, water boosting, wastewater handling and firefighting.
Some other projects include clients such as Vattanac Tower, the Great Duke Hotel and Gate-Way Development & Alexis Condominium.
In terms of water utilities, we have been working closely with the government to tackle Cambodia’s water issues through our Demand Driven Distribution solution.
It is an intelligent water distribution system which automatically adjusts the water flow through the use of remote sensors, reducing excessive pressure in the water pipes, which in turn limits water leakages and losses, minimising cost and energy.
What are the major sectors that Grundfos products are used in?
Grundfos’s business in Cambodia largely focuses on commercial building services and water utility services. From an industry perspective, a key sector we’re focused on is the beer industry, where we provide various water transfers and booster pumps required in their production process.
Other sectors of growth in Cambodia include the hospitality industry such as hotels and malls, as well as financial services, commercial buildings and hospitals.
Do you have any specific plans to expand in the Cambodian market? What are they?
Looking ahead, we are now focusing more on domestic building services while also doing projects for commercial buildings. We are also exploring the Cambodian market for opportunities in wastewater treatment.
We are planning on expanding our human resources in Cambodia to provide us with in-depth knowledge and expertise in areas such as commercial buildings, and energy and automation.
At the same time, we are focused on working with local Cambodian contractors who are taking up more projects and helping to build up their capabilities in the commercial building or industry sectors.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
