The Holderbank Group announced that is had secured a lease of the Chak Krey Ting

cement plant in Kampot from the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy.

The investment will be held by Holderbank's local subsidiary, Naga Cement Ltd., which

will modernise and expand the plant to boost production capacity to help meet Cambodia's

increasing cement requirements.

In a statement released by the firm Holderbank's Senior Vice President, Far East

Area, Peter Hugentobler said "As a leading blue chip Western investor we hope

that our involvement in Cambodia will promote other first class companies to more

seriously consider investment in Cambodia. The cement business is a heavy industry

and a long term investment which will allow massive savings in foreign exchange and

create quite some employment opportunities."

Holderbank intends to bring added value to the investment by conducting technical

training and management courses on a regular basis for company employees in order

to make them more efficient and enhance the professional career opportunities of

the individuals.

The statement adds that Holderbank is the world's largest cement manufacturer. With

companies in 35 countries, the group is the world's leading supplier of building

materials including cement, aggregates (gravel and sand), ready-mixed concrete and

concrete chemicals as well as construction-related services.