Meet Cambodia’s first ‘Real Estate Personality of the Year’

Having managed various businesses in Cambodia for more than two decades now, Rithy Sear has earned a reputation for being ambitious, and rightly so.

A confident businessman, Sear has had experiences in the logistics and e-commerce sectors since 1993, and is currently an active member of several prominent business associations in the country, including Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, and International Business Chamber of Cambodia, among others.

Sear is also a sought-after property developer in Cambodia today. He is the driving force behind Oxley Gem Cambodia, a joint venture between the Worldbridge Group’s Worldbridge Land arm and Singaporean firm Oxley Holdings, whose first mixed-use project, The Bridge, will be completed in 2018.

Another mixed-use residential and commercial development, The Peak, will feature residential homes, retail spaces and a Shangri-La hotel, and will open its doors in 2020.

This year Sear’s Worldbridge Group and his partners will be announcing two more projects – a sign of their continuing display of confidence in the thriving real estate sector in Cambodia.

For his pioneering efforts that elevate the standards and global appeal of the Cambodian property sector, Sear has been named as the Real Estate Personality of the Year award at the first Cambodia Property Awards 2016.

Chosen by the editors of Asia’s industry-leading Property Report magazine, the award is presented to the individual who has made a lasting impact on the country’s property market in the past year.

“Being selected as the first-ever Real Estate Personality of the Year is one of the most important moments in my business adventure,” says Sear. “I have always been passionate in bringing refreshing concepts and vibrancy to the property market in Cambodia…. being recognised in the industry is an extraordinary moment.”

He says the award represents Worldbridge Group’s vision, which is to create world-class projects with fair pricing in the interest of consumers. “All developers should be fair in pricing their projects so that buyers can remain safe and confident to keep supporting the local property growth.”

Sear’s efforts extend beyond the real estate market, having established a custom-bonded warehouse zone and special economic zone in Cambodia with Hong Kong-based partner, Kuok Group’s Kerry Logistics. He is also a known philanthropist, earning the dignitary title “Oknha” from H. M. Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia.

Sear will personally accept his award at the inaugural, blackt-tie gala of the Cambodia Property Awards 2016 – a part of PropertyGuru International’s 11-year-old Asia Property Awards programme – at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra on Thursday, 25 February. He will be presented the honour in front of his peers and the media.