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Looking ahead to 2022

Emerging trends and new advances in Inclusive Business

Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association: Supporting women-led inclusive businesses in Cambodia

Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association: Supporting women-led inclusive businesses in Cambodia

Interview with Lina Sophat, Secretary General of the Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association and IB Focal Point

Cambodia has developed a framework and strategy for promoting Inclusive Business. What do you think are the most important ways the government can support inclusive businesses in Cambodia?

The Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association, CWEA, is supporting and motivating the entrepreneurs to increase their business portfolio. CWEA aims to further improve and strengthen the economic position of women entrepreneurs’ platforms in the local Cambodian economy, as well as their regional and global business presence. CWEA aims to professionalize members with a strong portfolio to qualify them with more business opportunities. CWEA supports the use of services connected with the development phase of an entrepreneur though the IBeeC strategy and is encouraging the government to get high level (cabinet) approval. It is also supporting integrating IB content in the new SME development plan.

Several companies in Cambodia recently received Inclusive Business accreditation. From your experience, how does IB accreditation open doors for businesses in Cambodia?

Accreditation has the following benefits:

  • It increases the visibility of accredited and verified industries — entrepreneurs that are working to provide income for the people.
  • More companies will engage in new IB investments to promote income generating activities that will help poverty alleviation in the country.
  • It supports the policy work and provides new information to guide policy decision makers and will help with implementing those policy decisions for supporting IB at an impact level, for a better enabling environment for IB.
  • A strong cooperation mechanism between the public and private sector, impact investors, business facilitators and development partners will be institutionalized.
  • Cambodia’s approach and practice in promoting IB will be further appreciated at the ASEAN regional level, in the country, and globally.

How many women-owned inclusive businesses in your association have been accredited? How does this recognition empower women entrepreneurs?

Lyly Food Industry, one of our members, is one of the first IB Champions to be accredited based on the criteria set by the screening committee.

Cambodia has developed a strategic framework for promoting IB, the Inclusive Business Enabling Environment for Cambodia (IBeeC) Strategy. What is the role of CWEA in coordinating and supporting the development of Inclusive Business in Cambodia?

The Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association participates as a permanent member of the IB accreditation committee. We plan to work with the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI) on specific branding of women led companies with IB models. Furthermore, with MISTI support, CWEA will conduct an internal survey to its members to see which company is interested in transitioning into IB and will repeat this survey at least one time in the coming three years.

We will also support the IB business coaching guide and use the guide for business mentorship. CWEA will also participate in the discussions to set up an IB risk reduction and social incentive fund for impact investors, as well as discussions on how IB can be included in the new investment law.

Do you think that impact investors have become increasingly interested in inclusive businesses in Cambodia?

It’s too early to say at this point, as we just recently recognized the 18 IB Champions. We are expecting the first champions will provide good visibility and viability and serve as an inspiration to the upcoming companies who will be interested to be validated and accredited as IB companies.

What kind of trends in Inclusive Business do you foresee in Cambodia for the coming year?

Ethical business is growing and this can be incorporated in the products on e-commerce platforms. We are very positive that through the IBeeC, there are many things that can be done in different business sectors in the Kingdom.

Lina Sophat

Lina Sophat is the Secretary General of the Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association (CWEA). In addition, she serves as Vice Chairman of the CWEA Advocacy Committee and CWEA Official Representative to the Ministry of Labor and Vocation. She is also a Managing Partner at Anna & Associates Law Office.

Interview

Lyly Food: Increasing visibility through IB accreditation in Cambodia

Lyly Food is a female-led company that buys fruits and vegetables from farmers, it is also one of the first Cambodian businesses to receive IB accreditation. Ing Chhiv Ly, the CEO, explains how developing an inclusive business model has benefited her…
Olachi Thelma Opara
Table of contents

graphic summary

GRAPHIC SUMMARY

Learn more about trends and advances in Inclusive Business by reading this nineteenth edition of the online magazine on Inclusive Business! The illustration was developed by Christopher Malapitan, a visual practitioner and trainer based in…

Christopher Malapitan

editorial

Powering the just transition – The biggest opportunity for Inclusive Business

In his editorial, Markus Dietrich argues that there is a unique window of opportunity in 2022 to position Inclusive Business as a business model for a just transition to an inclusive economy that leaves no one behind.

Markus Dietrich

feature story

Looking ahead to 2022: Emerging trends and new advances in Inclusive Business

Inclusive Business is no longer on the sidelines; it has come front and center in the boardroom. Governments are also making headway in promoting Inclusive Business and developing inclusive business strategies. Several advances have been made in the ASEAN region, culminating in the recent ASEAN Inclusive Business Summit in Brunei. In this issue of CLUED-iN, the last of 2021, we take a look at new developments and advances in Inclusive Business, including new tools, innovations and practical approaches turning policy into action.

Alexandra Harris

Seven questions to make your business more inclusive of low-income and marginalized communities

Multi-national corporations are increasingly searching for ways to make their businesses more inclusive and sustainable. In their blog, Gillian Hinde and Jessie Coates of EY introduce the new Inclusive Business Playbook, which highlights innovative examples of inclusive business models and delves into key areas for companies to examine.

Promoting Inclusive Business and innovation in ASEAN

In her interview, Marta Pérez Cusó covers the latest IB policy development in the ASEAN region and the practical next steps for inclusive business promotion. She also discusses the new publication Frontiers of Inclusive Innovation: Formulating technology and innovation policies that leave no one behind, which provides examples of how governments can support grassroots innovation and inclusive policies.

Harnessing innovative solar technology to provide opportunity in remote areas

Advances in distributed solar technology have created new opportunities for energy access in remote areas. Callum Yap of Okra Solar explains the latest developments and also tells us how inclusive business coaching helped his company develop a framework for working with communities at the base of the pyramid in Southeast Asia.

How strategic coaching helped build a sustainable inclusive retail business in Egypt

Ahmed Sheikha shares how his company drew on advisory coaching services to develop an impactful inclusive business model in Egypt and to scale its impact on stakeholders.

Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association: Supporting women-led inclusive businesses in Cambodia

The Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association is supporting the development of Inclusive Business in Cambodia. Lina Sophat discusses the role of CWEA in supporting women entrepreneurs as a permanent member of the IB accreditation committee.

Lyly Food: Increasing visibility through IB accreditation in Cambodia

Lyly Food is a female-led company that buys fruits and vegetables from farmers, it is also one of the first Cambodian businesses to receive IB accreditation. Ing Chhiv Ly, the CEO, explains how developing an inclusive business model has benefited her company, and what the government can do to support businesses like hers.

Harnessing the Full Potential of Inclusive Business

How might Inclusive Business evolve in future? George Schoneveld of the Center for International Forestry Research outlines how it could contribute to the global climate change agenda and why partnerships are essential.