The real estate and construction sectors have been drivers of the Kingdom’s economic growth for the past two decades.
They injected billions of dollars a year into the national economy, before the stalemate of the last three to four years, largely caused by the global economic downturn which was the result of the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical rivalry, as well as wars in several nations.
As the Khmer and English language newspaper of record for more than three decades, The Phnom Penh Post is widely recognised as one of the most ethical independent newspapers in Cambodia.
Since its initial publication in 1992, and throughout its transition to a daily – in English in 2008 and Khmer in 2009 – it has received significant support and appreciation from the business community and the general public of all political persuasions, both domestic and foreign.
As a leading publication, its contribution to the growth of the real estate market in Cambodia grew exponentially in 2011, when The Post began creating focused content which provided in-depth coverage and analysis of the real estate and construction sector.
Sam Soknoeun, president of the Global Real Estate Association, speaks highly of The Post, saying that the publication has been the first-choice of the public, as well as politicians, business leaders and academics as it offers clear content, with transparency and accountability that is widely respected in domestic and international circles.
He says The Post has played an important role in delivering factual news to readers from all walks of life, both in Cambodia and abroad.
He believes that as the newspaper of record and the world’s window on Cambodia, The Post has made a significant contribution to disseminating accurate information that helps attract investors to Cambodia.
“The Post has always been the choice of domestic and international readers, especially politicians and major international experts, for its reporting on the general situation and economic performance of Cambodia over the past two decades,” he says.
He notes that with a lot of misinformation and even “fake news” circulating on social media that could easily cause confusion among the general public in this digital age, The Post remains a clear source of reliable information.
On the business front, Soknoeun singles out The Post for its contributions to the real estate and construction sectors.
“The Post has published many excellent articles and factual reports, each of them highly valued by national and international readers,” he said.
While the real estate and construction market in Cambodia has experienced a small decline over the past three years, Soknoeun is confident of a strong recovery.
“I am optimistic that the market will expand rapidly in the next three to five years, as the government is working diligently to prepare new policies and attract more investment to Cambodia in all areas,” he said.
Kim Heang, regional operating principal of Keller Williams Cambodia and owner of Khmer Real Estate Co Ltd, describes The Post as a well-known newspaper, with clear, meaningful articles, both in the Khmer and English editions.
He agrees that The Post has made a significant contribution to the rapid growth of the real estate and construction market in Cambodia.
“Through my own experience in the real estate sector since 2001, I have observed the important role The Phnom Penh Post has played in attracting large foreign investors to the Kingdom’s real estate sector. In terms of the general market situation and property prices in Cambodia over the last decade or so, they have more than doubled,” he says.
“The closure of The Phnom Penh Post is a shame as we are losing a good newspaper. It is very sad that this independent newspaper with in-depth information is coming to an end. After all, this is what comes of the digital revolution,” he adds.
According to Kim Heang, in all of his business operations which have spanned the past 20 years, he has often advertised in The Post. He would consider himself a supporter of the paper until the final copy rolled off the presses.