LIKE Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL. in Thailand, CP Cambodia has long held three core values at the heart of how it does business: it must benefit the country, it must benefit the people, and it should benefit corporate investors and stakeholders.

However, Cambodia’s biggest animal husbandry and farming enterprise have gone even further in following three other principles by which to operate -- sustainable food security, self-sufficiency, and balance of nature.

These principles, says Mr. Wittaya Kreangkriwit, Senior Vice-President for Special Project and Government Relations of CP, have seen the company participate and promote a range of activities in Cambodia such as blood donation, food donation, bathroom building, and youth sponsorship.

This year CP Cambodia has started on a new social campaign, to help raise awareness for blood donors.

“We have set a target of one million mililiters a year. With this new program, we aim to help the people who are injured by the accident and/or infectious disease. We start with our own staff, as well as encourage other corporations to participate. We’ll also cooperate with the military, police and youth associations to provide the facilities and circumstances for them to participate,” said Mr. Wittaya.

Sustainable food supply for Cambodian people is at the core of CP business, but for that to work, CP go beyond merely supplying customers with products. Apart from supplying actual products such as animal feed, animal breed and food products, CP cooperate with local farmers and provide technical assistance to help them build their business to boost sustainable food for Cambodian society.

Some of the social activities of CP Cambodia include giving hot meals for selected NGOs around the country, such as the New Hope Centre, Kruosar Thmei, and other orphanage. Every month CP fed at least 350 students and in other areas CP works with local communities by sponsoring projects to support elderly.

Moreover, CP had a project for planting thousands of trees around farms and schools in Kampong Speu and Kandal provinces.

Another project CP has quietly introduced to rural schools is improving the bathroom facilities for students.

Because of limited resources, many schools have poor facilities and over 100 boys and girls sometimes have to share just one bathroom. CP aim is to help rural schools to improve sanitation and students’ hygiene. So, CP had provided bathrooms for the boys and girls for their personal necessity in school.

These are not the only projects aimed for the youth that CP has been involved in.

A popular national talent contest known as “Freshies Girls and Boys” sees CP sponsor a segment which challenges participants in their ability to promote Khmer young generation future stars.

“We hope we can unearth some talented individuals as well as encourage them how to be the best of themselves,” said Mr. Wittaya.

CP believes that through innovation and efficiency, CP can enhance quality and food safety and create a healthy and self-reliance society regardless of the limited natural resources. In this way, the Company can reduce adverse environmental impact as well as reinforcing social and economic sustainability.