The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Cambodia, in partnership with the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC), has been awarded hosting rights for the 2024 JCI Asia-Pacific Conference. The four-day event will be held in Siem Reap province from June 6 to 9.

JCI Cambodia president Khim Bunlene announced the upcoming event during a December 23 press conference.

“The Cambodian government provides us with hope, support and encouragement, so we have the motivation to organise this programme. If our country was not peaceful, or suffered from insecurity, political instability or a bad economic situation, we absolutely could not assume hosting duties. I would like to thank the government for doing so many great things to motivate us to do this,” he said.

During the press conference, Dek Dary, director of the 2024 JCI Asia-Pacific Conference Organising Committee, said the event will be attended by more than 4,000 domestic and international delegates. The international guests will travel from Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as further afield.

She said several major events will take place at the conference, including matching local and foreign traders, cultural exchanges, and leadership and skills training.

“Currently, our team is preparing the core work to make sure the event runs smoothly … We are also producing videos which promote the beautiful culture and civilisation in Cambodia, as well as its constant growth, in order to showcase the rich potential of the Kingdom,” she added.

JCI Cambodia and the UYFC expect the large number of guests attending the conference to help boost the national economy by more than $4 million.

Sok Sabayna, standing committee member of the UYFC, expressed his pleasure at the awarding of hosting rights to Cambodia.

He explained that through its collaboration with JCI, the YUFC will provide volunteer opportunities for young people to demonstrate the true heart of Cambodia.

JCI is a non-profit international NGO made up of young people aged 18 to 40, with members in about 124 countries. The JCI Asia-Pacific Conference is held annually.

Hosting the conference will give Cambodia an opportunity to promote its historical and cultural traditions to the world better, the organisers said.