Kith Meng
Encyclopedia
Kith Meng Chairman of The Royal Group
, is arguably "Cambodia's most prominent business leader", majority owning Cambodia's
leading television and telecommunications networks, Cambodian Broadcasting Corporation and CamGSM
. Described by Forbes Magazine
as "ruthless" yet "genuine", the CEO
of ANZ Royal Bank
Dean Cleland has also described Meng as a "tough, real rags to riches story". Meng is known for his open economic thinking, stating, "I [make joint ventures] with international companies, not Cambodian ones", and in this particular regard has been likened to Dr Mark Mobious
.
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. 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." 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
.
, selling furniture and office supplies to the UN
, and operating a Canon copiers franchise, before establishing The Royal Group
. 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.
Lee Kuan Yew
and Thailand's
Thaksin Shinawatra
. However Meng's downplayed suggestions he one day stand for the Prime Ministership
, saying, "leave politics to the politicians". Still, Meng often accompany's Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen
abroad to help promote Cambodia's economic interests.
The Royal Group
The Royal Group, headquartered in ASEANs Cambodia and chaired by Kith Meng, is an investment and development company with numerous interests including but not limited to:Telecommunications and information technologies...
, is arguably "Cambodia's most prominent business leader", majority owning Cambodia's
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
leading television and telecommunications networks, Cambodian Broadcasting Corporation and CamGSM
CamGSM
CamGSM, majority owned by businessman Kith Meng, operates Cambodia’s leading mobile telecommunications network via its Mobitel and Cellcard subsidiaries, delivering local and international telecommunications services, as well as being an internet service provider.-History:Originally CamGSM was a...
. Described by Forbes Magazine
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
as "ruthless" yet "genuine", the CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of ANZ Royal Bank
ANZ Royal Bank
ANZ Royal is a bank in Cambodia with 23 branches that provides internet banking and a network of Automated Teller Machines at 101 locations both at branches and off-site. It also offers an "institutional team to assist multinational businesses operating in Cambodia"...
Dean Cleland has also described Meng as a "tough, real rags to riches story". Meng is known for his open economic thinking, stating, "I [make joint ventures] with international companies, not Cambodian ones", and in this particular regard has been likened to Dr Mark Mobious
Mark Mobius
Dr. Joseph Mark Mobius is a global investor and emerging markets fund manager, and is considered to be one of the leaders in the industry as he has been involved in these markets for over 40 years.-Biography:...
.
Cambodia to Thailand to Australia
Forced from their KandalKandal Province
Kandal is a province of Cambodia. Its capital is Ta Khmao town . The province completely surrounds, but does not include, the national capital Phnom Penh...
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
The Royal Group
The Royal Group, headquartered in ASEANs Cambodia and chaired by Kith Meng, is an investment and development company with numerous interests including but not limited to:Telecommunications and information technologies...
, were separated from their parents, who later starved. With his older brother by his side, however, Meng escaped to Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
, which they then departed for Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. In Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Meng states, “they put us in a pig farm... we slept with the pigs... we no longer existed; we had no state, nothing." In 1980, however, Meng and Thieng were found by a fellow family member in a Thai refugee camp, and both brothers immigrated to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where they worked and schooled in the nation's capital, Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
.
Returning from Australia to Cambodia
In 1991 Meng and Thieng returned to CambodiaCambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, selling furniture and office supplies to the UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, and operating a Canon copiers franchise, before establishing The Royal Group
The Royal Group
The Royal Group, headquartered in ASEANs Cambodia and chaired by Kith Meng, is an investment and development company with numerous interests including but not limited to:Telecommunications and information technologies...
. Now, Meng is President of Cambodia's Chamber Of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, 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'sSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
and Thailand's
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman and politician, who was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup....
. However Meng's downplayed suggestions he one day stand for the Prime Ministership
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, saying, "leave politics to the politicians". Still, Meng often accompany's Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen
Hun Sen
Hun Sen is the current Prime Minister of Cambodia.He has been the sole leader of the Cambodian People's Party , which has governed Cambodia since the Vietnamese-backed overthrow of the Khmer Rouge in 1979...
abroad to help promote Cambodia's economic interests.