Open Meeting – Webinar

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05 May 2021 (12:00 pm - 1:00 pm)
Zoom Webinar

In light of the current situation of COVID-19 in Cambodia, the International Business Chamber of Cambodia (IBC) would like to inform you that the IBC will hold its Open Meeting via Zoom Webinar only on Wednesday, 5th May, 2021 from 12:00 pm.

The topic of our discussion will be – “Food Security – Cambodia’s Future in Agriculture“

We have a panel of 3 experts in the agriculture field to provide you with insights on food security in Cambodia.

 

   Mr. Rami Sharaf – Senior Vice President of the ROYAL GROUP.

Rami Sharaf is a senior business executive with vast international experience across a wide range of fields. He is currently the Senior Vice President of the ROYAL GROUP and is also a serving member of the International Advisory Council of APCO WORLDWIDE, based in Washington DC.

“Rami has first-rate knowledge of Middle Eastern, Central Asian and Southeast Asian markets and economic development,” said Garry Walsh, managing director for Southeast Asia at APCO Worldwide. “With Rami’s help, it will be even easier for our clients to gain access to some of the largest consumer bases and fastest growing economies in the world here in Southeast Asia and abroad.”

With more than 25 years of experience in international business and economic development in emerging markets, Sharaf previously served as CEO of RMA Cambodia, where he managed a diverse portfolio of companies in the automotive, franchising, infrastructure, power, agriculture and banking industries. In this role, he managed 1,600 employees and was responsible for growing the business from $34 million to $142 million annual turnover in five years. Prior to joining RMA Cambodia, Sharaf spent 18 years at Novo Nordisk in executive positions working in Israel and Palestinian territories, Jordan, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Sharaf served on the board of the International Business Chamber, and presently serves as the volunteer chairman of AIESEC Cambodia and the honorary advisor for Junior Chamber International (JCI) Cambodia.

“I am excited to join this prestigious group of global leaders that comprise APCO’s IAC,” said Sharaf. “I have a passion for helping countries grow their economies through better collaboration with the private sector to fuel growth and development. With APCO, I will be able to help a greater array of organizations navigate the global business environment and complex challenges in international trade and development.”

   Mr. Ratha Chan – Country director of Cambodia Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (CPSA).

Ratha Chan has been working for over 13 years of experience in teaching, research, consulting and project implementation for the development, private and public sectors in Cambodia, the majority of which were spent in the field of SMEs and more generally private sector development.

Moreover, 7 years of work experience focused specifically on the agriculture and agro-industry sectors.

Since January 2019, Ratha has been the Director of the Cambodia Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (CPSA), a small and dynamic non-governmental organization that was founded as a multi-stakeholder partnership for the improvement of the agriculture sector in Cambodia, and ultimately of smallholder farmers’ livelihood and income. Primarily funded by DFAT, CPSA’s operation model is based on the coordination of Working Groups (WGs), which are voluntary grouping of stakeholders from private sector, government, farmer organizations, CSOs, INGOs and research institutes. There are currently four WGs under CPSA’s Secretariat: Pepper, Cashew, Fruit & Vegetables, and Agri-Food SMEs WGs. Each WG has a different mandate and activities, ranging from market linkage and value chain assessment to policy development. Besides facilitating the WGs, Ratha with CPSA is also working on other cross-cutting issues such as, among the others, Contract Farming (jointly with MAFF Department of Agro-Industry) and Sustainable Investments in the Agro-Industry (in partnership with the Council for the Development of Cambodia). Other Ministries/government agency beside MAFF with whom Ratha collaborates regularly include the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI) and the Council Development of Cambodia (CDC).
Particularly relevant for this Agro-Processing Study, are the relationship with key actors and activities related to the Agri-Food SMEs WG, which sees the participation of Medium Enterprises (accessible for the study). Moreover, through the Sustainable Investment Project (especially on SMEs database development), Ratha liaised with various actors, including CDC- Director level, medium to large agro-industries, business associations and chambers of commerce  (also key for this assignment).
Given his extensive experience in the sector and the knowledge of its context as well of key players, Ratha represents an excellent candidate for the Agro-Processing Study. His expertise in the agri- and agro- sector will be well suited to provide CAVAC with a detailed profile of the sector and key players, and on its regulatory and enabling environment, trade policy, investment and standards trends, and factors related to supply of raw inputs from producers. Ratha’s expertise will also be very valuable for producing recommendations as a result of the study (which will be later used by RCG and CAVAC to develop strategies to achieve agro-processing industry policy objectives, as well as by DFAT to identify new activities to implement).
   Dr. Nir Atzmon – General Manager and Partner of CamAgra Investment Group and IAT (Innovative Agro Technologies).
For 18 years Nir Atzmon was senior researcher at ARO (Agricultural Research Organization, Israel), Head of the Department of Natural resources ARO, Professor at the Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem, Israeli representative in UN/FAO-COFO (Committee of Forestry), and National Forest Commissioner in Israel.
Since 2008, he serves as a General Manager and Partner of CamAgra Investment Group. 5000 hectares of commercial Acacia forest plantation, producing veneer, organic compost and charcoal, and a General Manager and Partner of IAT (Innovative Agro Technologies). Manufacturing greenhouses for vegetable production, also providing improved vegetable seedlings, irrigation systems, training and relevant supplies.
Since arriving to Cambodia Nir supervise bachelor’s and Master’s thesis of students from the Faculty of Forestry, Royal University of Agriculture, Cambodia.

 

Please refer to the details below:
Date:         Wednesday, 05 May, 2021
Time:        12:00 pm – 01:00 pm
Topic:       “Food Security – Cambodia’s Future in Agriculture” 
Please click here to register to attend this webinar.
This event is open to both IBC Members and Non-Members to attend.

IBC Corporate Platinum Sponsors:

 

IBC Corporate Gold Sponsors: