Special Issue: Confirel won the 2021 entrepreneurship award

We don’t know if the jury’s tasting of our sparkling Mekong produced according to the Champagne method was decisive, but one thing is certain: Confirel won the first prize in the National Entrepreneurship Contest 2021, awarded last December 11.

This competition, of which it was the second edition, was organized by the National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Khmer Enterprises organization with the support of the Ministries of Economy and Finance, Labor and Vocational training, Commerce and Industry. Some 200 small and medium-sized enterprises from all provinces of Cambodia applied for the trophy and 20 were shortlisted for the finals.

The seven members of the jury had to decide between the finalists after hearing their leaders explain their business strategy, their capacity for innovation, their business model and their community impact.

Mr. Hym Piseth, Director of Human Resources at Confirel, who represented Dr. Hay Ly Eang, founder of the company, convinced the jury of the relevance of Confirel’s economic model, the objective of which is to enhance our national wealth and our know-how, share them with the young generation. Our other objective is to contribute to rural development by starting with raw materials from Cambodian terroirs that our capacity for innovation allows to transform into competitive products on the international premium organic food market.

“Confirel’s business model benefits farmers as well as Cambodian society as a whole. In addition Confirel is a solid company which has the capacity to establish itself on the international market, both in Europe and in Asia “, declared the jury, explaining their choice.

Since its creation in 2001, Confirel and its products have won numerous awards both in Cambodia and abroad. These include the Palme d’Or at the Natexpo trade fair in 2005 in Paris for our organic sugar Thnot, which was also voted the best product of ASEAN in 2017.

We have always believed that it is by bringing exceptional products to the international market that we could accomplish our mission in favor of the rebirth of Cambodia and the sustainable development of the rural world. This award, 20 years after our beginnings, confirms our approach and our determination.

While the urbanization of the country is likely to lead to the disappearance of many sugar palms – Thnot in Khmer – Confirel takes the opportunity of its distinction to suggest the establishment of a National Sugar Palm Day to preserve this precious resource for the economy and identity of Cambodia. In addition, to encourage innovation in the field of agribusiness, Confirel also suggests that its sparkling palm wine Mekong, produced according to the same method as the famous French champagnes, be used in official ceremonies. This sparkling palm wine made from sugar palm sap is a worldwide exclusivity that shows that innovation can make the best of the kingdom’s natural resources.