Private equity firm Cambodia Investor Club (CIC) will soon start the second round of its Beyond Investment Opportunity (Bio) programme, aiming to accelerate investment activity in Cambodia by educating investors and entrepreneurs.

CIC’s first Bio programme was launched in August last year. It spanned seven months and consisted of nine training courses with discussion sessions between participants, successful entrepreneurs and mentors, as well as operation monitoring in the field, according to Bio programme leader Heang Rasmey.

“We have noticed that our programme has a lot of supporters. Our trainees receive more ideas to operate their businesses better as we do not provide only training but also help to check their business operations, as well as link them to investors,” he said.

“Due to the flow of our programme, it shows a lot of support and achievements. We will continue the second season of our programme in June or July.”

The fee for the first programme was $750, with 80 participants based in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap town joining, Rasmey said. The second programme is expected to have more than 100 participants, he added.

‘Building networks, markets’

Yorn Sophearith, founder and managing director of BizKhmer Media, an online-based advertising and digital marketing provider, who was also one of the first-round Bio programme participants, said it is a new business programme which offers a lot of benefits to entrepreneurs who lack skills and business savvy.

He added that it gives them a chance to meet investors and bridging networks to exchange experience.

“It is helpful and it benefits all participants who have a shortage of skills and business management,” he said.

“It also helps by building up networks and markets. The programme gathers entrepreneurs and investors and presents opportunities for business cooperation.”