Although there are workshops here and there and some business associations, Vientiane lacks of regularly business oriented networking events. In a country that still lacks of enough SMEs it is important, to connect people, share knowledge and ideas and developing markets.
The basic idea of a monthly Vientiane Business meeting is to bring foreign investors and business men together with local entrepreneurs and business owners. It is not an expat only event!
Over the weekend, I met a small-business owner here in Phnom Penh who had some legal trouble setting-up her store. She fell into a common trap, which should serve as a lesson for anyone looking to set up their business.
New businesses need to register with the Ministry of Commerce, which requires a copy of the business’s lease agreement. If you’re sub-leasing the premises, then you’ll also need written authorization from the owner of the property, not just the person leasing it to you. If you can’t get the owner’s approval, you won’t be able to get your business registered.
"There are so many things" she told me in shaking her head... "this adds to the statistics that most businesses do not survive their second year". As tough as the situation is, we tried to draw lessons. Although the reasons why it did not worked out are probably not different from the studies we can find about start up companies, Sharee singled out three main reasons:
Non-Governmental Organizations are major employers in Cambodia, particularly of foreign staff. This guide aims to help NGOs and their employees better understand and comply with the employment laws of Cambodia. It integrates the major sources of law – laws, executive regulations, and Arbitration Council decisions – into a single easy-to-use booklet.
The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 679
“Phnom Penh: The Counselor of the Economic and Commercial Section of the Chinese Embassy to Cambodia, Mr. Jin Yuan, said that according to Chinese customs statistics, within six months of 2010, the Cambodian-Chinese trade amounted to US$627 million, an increase by 37.70% compared to the corresponding period last year.
Seventeen years after setting up shop in an undeveloped country in dire need of foreign investment and expertise, Anthony Salzman has become one of Vietnam’s most valued friends in the business world. Duncan Forgan meets the entrepreneur to hear his remarkable tale.
Soothsayers and mystics might want to argue the toss, but accurately predicting the future is generally a pastime fraught with danger.
The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 677
“A high ranking official of the Sam Rainsy Party demanded the government to clarify the investments by private companies on some islands in the Cambodian sea. People want to know which companies control those islands and the leasing prices, and for how long. A request was made after the Cambodian government handed over some islands to local and foreign companies for investment, but the investment opportunities were not put up to facilitate accurate and transparent public biddings.
The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 676
“Phnom Penh: The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation plans to pay an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran from 10 to 11 August 2010.
The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 676
“The National Oil Corporation of Vietnam, Petrolimex, launched its representative office in Phnom Penh on 2 August 2010.
“During the inauguration, the director of Petrolimex, Mr. Dui Ngoc Bao, said that the representative office has the role to promote the name of the company and to do market research as well as to find trade opportunities for oil, gas, and related products, and other services in Cambodia.
The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 675
“Phnom Penh: The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akkak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen, returned to Cambodia in the evening of 27 July 2010, after paying an official visit to the Republic of Singapore for three days.