Cambodia’s construction industry took a major step forward in its development on Tuesday with the second summit of the Cambodia Constructors Association at DARA Airport Hotel. The summit occurred alongside an exhibition of construction products, materials and services.

Association chairman Pung Kheav Se said that was proud of the summit’s success, which he said hinged upon the crucial efforts of association members and other relevant institutions.

The association reached a total of 50 members recently, but many companies have still yet to join.

“I would like to appeal to all the companies attending the second summit here to please register as the member of the Cambodia Constructors Association as soon as possible,” Pung said before summit attendees.

Promoting sustainable development is one of the association’s key objectives for the construction industry, he said. Cambodia’s construction sector employs more than 150,000 people and is currently in a state of rapid expansion.

Im Chhun Lim, Senior Minister of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, said the summit highlighted the substantial progress and achievments of the domestic construction industry over the past two years. It also served to improve relationships with partners in the government as well as domestic and international institutions, he said.

Im said the association will serve as “an important stage for members and the construction sector as whole” and would raise domestic construction standards. Member companies are involved in a wide variety of construction activities, including constructing buildings, roads, bridges, railways and airports as well as manufacturing electric, water and air conditioning systems.

The association was founded in November 2011 and acceded to the ASEAN Constructor Federation the following month.