Established in 1999, Forte Insurance is among Cambodia’s leading insurance firms of today. Though it is 100 per cent Cambodian-based, the company attributes its success to the principles and work ethics of its Singaporean founder and the generations that followed. Chelsea Chapman spoke with Forte’s CEO, Charles Cheo, on the qualities of being a market leader.

What makes Forte a leading insurance company?

At Forte, we pride ourselves on being a progressive company with strong management skills and a dynamic work culture. We advocate transparency and professionalism in our business dealings, client relations, staff welfare etc. That is one of the reasons we’ve succeeded as market leaders all this time. The key for us is staying two steps ahead of the pack, plus being able to drive innovation in our products and services.

What is Singaporean about Forte?

We’ve always maintained that we’re a Cambodian company with a Singaporean style of management. This means having an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit. For example, Forte pioneered the ACII accreditation in Cambodia and taught courses to the public so they could receive internationally recognised qualifications to build a network of insurance professionals to support the industry. Throughout the years, we’ve not wavered from our Singaporean approach to continually strive for innovation and growth, to maintain our market position and support the needs of our customers.

What is Forte’s role in contributing to Cambodia?

Forte supports the communities in Cambodia by providing quality insurance services. Without risk mitigation, it’s tough for any economy to develop, and a growing economy like Cambodia’s needs protection and a secure infrastructure in place. Having a stable insurance company like Forte at the industry’s forefront gives existing and new companies a trusted partner they can work with. This paves the way for other investors to have confidence in the country, and Cambodia will be better developed on the whole.

‘Without risk mitigation, it’s tough for any economy to develop, and a growing economy like Cambodia’s needs protection and a secure infrastructure in place.’

How does Forte give back to the community?

The Forte team is actively involved in volunteerism, especially in community related events and helping to educate young people. Our company motto “We Build Confidence” delivers on the promise of enriching people’s lives.

When we teach children how to plant and nurture trees, it’s more than just having “green fingers” – they also learn responsibility in caring for their local environment and have fun at the same time.

As a company, Forte is committed to grow and develop our employees’ capabilities, and these are the kind of ethics that we’d like to share with the community.

What is the future for Forte?

There is a commitment within the group to continue leading the market, to improve livelihoods and support Cambodia to become better than it is today. We’ve grown our team of three to four staff at the beginning to managing over 100 well-trained professionals today. We also recognise the support of our customers and associates, and will continue to deliver the standards worthy of their confidence.