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PropertyGuru Cambodia Property Awards 2018 honours maturing property market

History was made at the third annual gala dinner of the PropertyGuru Cambodia Property Awards, presented by KHI, which took place Friday evening (16 March) at the majestic Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra.

Borey Peng Huoth Group was named Best Developer for the third consecutive year. It was the first time a developer has achieved this distinction in the 13-year history of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards programme.

Fielding its best condominium, housing and retail properties, the country’s top developer has also earned a reputation for producing premium mixed-use development, such as this year’s Greater Euro Ville. Overall, the group collected seven golden trophies and 10 commendations.

“Borey Peng Huoth Group is in a league of its own as a relentless innovator in Cambodian real estate. Being the first developer in the country to utilise technology to promote its properties and to inform consumers, the group understands the power of positive word-of-mouth. For every project, whether residential, commercial or mixed-use, Borey Peng Huoth has earned praises from the industry, citing the quality of sustainable design, planning and execution, and site management,” said the independent panel of judges.

Exciting mixed-use developments

The company shares the award for Special Recognition in CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) with another top nominee, Creed Group and its affiliates, which took home three awards, including one for Special Recognition in Sustainable Development, plus two Highly Commended distinctions.

Tying Creed Group with three awards is LIXIN Construction, the team behind the new mixed-use property in central Phnom Penh’s 7 Makara district. A collaboration between KT Pacific Group and LIXIN Group, the winning project CEO KT Pacific collected the gongs for Best High End Condo Development (Phnom Penh) and Best Office Development.

Last year’s multiple winner Phnom Penh City Center claimed two awards for Best Universal Design Development and Best Retail Development for its Eden Garden project located in their mixed-use complex in the capital.

A total of 26 award categories, including a few special awards, were presented at the televised ceremony on CTN TV that was attended by more than 360 guests, VIPs, and members of the press.

Awareness for female workers’ rights

The exclusive guest list included the delegation of ministers and government officials led by H.E. Dr Pen Sophal, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, who delivered the keynote address on behalf of H.E. Senior Minister Chea Sophara. The minister praised the advancements of the maturing real estate and construction sectors, as well as the aspirations and efforts of developers to promote sustainable and safe building practices.

Among the highlights of the evening was a brief presentation about labour rights from CARE, the event’s official charity, which gave a Special Recognition for Positive Construction Practices to Pisnoka International Corporation for setting an example for the best practices in the industry by giving Cambodian female construction professionals labour protection and training.

The Municipality of Phnom Penh was also honoured for the Phnom Penh Riverside Redevelopment and Phnom Penh Waterworks projects spearheaded by the capital’s governor, H.E. Mr Khoung Sreng, receiving the Special Recognition for Public Facility, a new category this year.

Inspiring a new generation of designers

Additionally, young architect and respected university lecturer and guest professor Hun Chansan, the founder, design director and principal architect of Re-Edge Architecture + Design, was presented a special award for Cambodia Real Estate Personality of the Year. He has been chosen by the editors of PropertyGuru Property Report magazine for inspiring a new generation of Cambodian architects and designers and for his efforts to raise their profession’s profile in the global scene.

Hari V. Krishnan, CEO of PropertyGuru Group, said: “Congratulations to the Winners and Highly Commended companies in Cambodia. Once again they have demonstrated that progress in the sector can be achieved by producing quality products targeted at various types of consumers who may be interested in innovative luxury and high-end residential, affordable housing, mixed-use, or commercial properties.

“It’s exciting to see that the domestic market is also maturing in terms of standardising working methods and safety guidelines and PropertyGuru is proud to support and celebrate the best business practices from developers and the construction industry.”

Terry Blackburn, founder and managing director of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards, said: “Cambodia’s rapidly evolving real estate development and construction sectors are significant contributors to the advancement of this country’s economy and we are proud to have organised another hugely successful event this year. Well done to all the developers for giving consumers more quality real estate to choose from in the Greater Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville regions.”

Independent judging panel system

This year’s independent judging panel in Cambodia comprised of returning chairman Sorn Seap (Founder & Director, Key Real Estate Co Ltd); Simon Griffiths (Managing Director, Urban Assets Solutions), David Littlejohn (Sales & Marketing Manager, Comin Khmere), Michel Cassagnes (Managing Director, Archetype Cambodia), Sok Siphana (Managing Partner, SokSiphana&associates); Ross Wheble, MA, MRICS (Country Head, Knight Frank [Cambodia] Pte Ltd), Thida Ann (Director, CBRE Cambodia), and Grace Rachny Fong (Executive Director, Century 21 Cambodia).

The 2018 PropertyGuru Cambodia Property Awards was supported by platinum sponsor KHI; co-sponsors Panasonic and Jotun; official portal partner Realestate.com.kh; official charity partner CARE; media partners Southeast Asia GLOBE, Khmer Times, Construction & Property Magazine, B2B Cambodia, BizKhmer, and PropertyGuru Property Report; supporting associations European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (EuroCham) and British Chamber of Commerce Cambodia; and the official supervisor BDO led in Cambodia by partner Lim Seng Siew, assistant manager Sok Sochetra, and senior associate Norng Kiman.

Main category winners are now qualified to compete for more regional honours at the 8th annual PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, which will be hosted by Thailand for the first-time ever. The ceremony is a collocated event of the two-day PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit at The Athenee Hotel, Bangkok on 8-9 November 2018.

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