Mr. Un Savong, pillar of the PPM-Confirel group, passed away

He accompanied Dr. Hay Ly Eang and the development of PPM-Confirel Group from 1993 until his last breath. Mr. Un Savong passed away on November 25 at the age of 65. A mathematics teacher in the 1980s before joining the army in 1986, Mr. Vong was hit by a landmine in 1987 during a mission in the northwest of the country. His injuries caused him to gradually lose the use of his legs until he was amputated in 2000. While receiving a small pension as a war casualty, he met Dr. Hay when he returned to Cambodia to revive the pharmaceutical industry destroyed by the war years. Initially hired as a driver at PPM in 1995, he became one of Dr. Hay’s main collaborators over time.

With his great intelligence and exceptional organizational skills, he put his multiple talents at the service of the Group’s development. In particular, he was one of the key players in the installation of the production lines in the PPM plant in Chom Chao, which was commissioned in 2004 after several years of work for which he was one of the supervisors.

And when at the end of the 1990’s Dr. Hay embarked on the Confirel adventure, Mr. Vong, as we all called him, was on the front line to provide, while he was farming a dozen palm trees, the sap that would be used for all the experiments and analyses that would allow the development of production methods for a palm sugar of international quality. He was also the driving force behind the grouping of palm sugar producers in Kampong Speu, which led to the awarding of the PGI palm sugar designation for Kampong Speu, marking a major step in the international recognition of this emblematic Cambodian product.

Cambodia has changed so much in 20 years that it is hard to imagine that, in the 1990s, moving around the country outside of Phnom Penh was dangerous, with the risk of being robbed or worse. Mr. Vong, like those who accompanied him at that time in the adventure of the palm sugar of Kampong Speu which will become the first flagship product of Confirel, was one of those who were not afraid of the dangers when it came to work for the restoration of the national greatness.

In the years that followed, Mr. Vong used his natural authority to develop the group as director of general administration. With a face eternally lit by a benevolent smile, he was the man who solved all the problems posed by the technical and human organization of a group employing several hundred people.

Every day, he could be seen moving from one point to another within the Chom Chao site on a small Chaly motorcycle and no one could have guessed at first glance his heavy handicap as he seemed to have forgotten it when he was at work with a dedication to the company that never left him.

All the employees of PPM Confirel Group salute with respect and affection the memory of this exemplary man to whom they owe a lot.

Rest in Peace Mr. Vong.