A delegation of eight French companies from the water management sector visited Phnom Penh yesterday, meeting with main Cambodian players in the sector and looking for new business opportunities in the country.

The companies aim to gain a better insight into the local needs of the sector and develop commercial, industrial and technological partnerships with local players in the water sector.

According to Marc Hernandez, environment project manager at the Energy Environment & Chemistry Department of Ubifrance, “it’s the first contact”.

He said the visit was “to know about each other” and a chance for Cambodia to express its needs and for the French companies to offer their solutions.

The visit was organised by French agency Ubifrance, and supported by the French Embassy in Phnom Penh.

The businesses represented were Altereo, De Dietrich, Hemera, Perrier Sorem, Sappel, SCE, Veolia Water and Vinci Construction.

Allan Ong, general manager of De Dietrich, said Cambodia offers a business opportunity for the local production of polyaluminium chloride for water treatment.

According to Alice Thauvin, Vietnam representative of SCE, a consulting firm for water projects, there are many opportunities in Cambodia, as water supply is expanding and sanitation is only at a starting point.

She said she hopes in the future water tariffs and billing systems will be improved “so that water can pay for water” and through water fees full cost recovery can be achieved.

“But I think we’re still not at this stage yet.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Anne Renzenbrink at [email protected]