Conference & Arnaud Darc: A plea for an ambitious and united Cambodia

The ‘Khmer Can Do’ fair was in full swing at the vast Koh Pich exhibition centre, where the rhythm of Cambodia's self-assertion was in full swing. At the crossroads of innovation and tradition, this event was conceived as a showcase for the world, a snapshot of a country that aims to cultivate the art of combining memory and modernity.

One of the highlights of the fair was the conference entitled ‘Cambodia through the eyes of the world’, which left a lasting impression thanks to the density of the presentations and the richness of the discussions

At the heart of this conference, the words of Arnaud Darc, entrepreneur, investor and key figure on the Cambodian economic scene, resonated with particular intensity. Known for his commitment to the development of the hotel sector and local gastronomy, the man who has made the Kingdom his home for over two decades was able to deliver, with accuracy and a lofty viewpoint, a testimony that went beyond a simple entrepreneurial journey. His talk was a reflection on the identity of Cambodia today, as seen by a foreigner who has become an intimate player in its development.

A mirror held up between two worlds

‘Cambodia through the eyes of the world’ was not conceived as a fixed academic conference, but as a space for dialogue where the diversity of backgrounds opened up as many perspectives as personal accounts. Arnaud Darc had every right to be invited to speak: French by birth but deeply rooted in Cambodia, his career in itself tells the story of the country's appeal to curious and entrepreneurial minds.

In a packed room of students, young entrepreneurs, business leaders and diplomats, his speech focused on Cambodia in all its dimensions: a territory with a rich history stretching back thousands of years, but still in the process of construction in today's economic world.

It's not just a country that I've discovered through my projects,‘ he insisted, ’but a real human and creative laboratory.

These precise words captured the attention of an audience eager for international recognition and inspiration.

The strength of a country on the move

Much of what Arnaud Darc had to say revolved around one conviction: far from the simplistic clichés that cling to Cambodia, the country is a dynamic force that it is up to its people to assert and project to the outside world.

He believes that the Kingdom's nascent economy, which was still fragile twenty years ago, now has a broader ambition. In tourism, catering, quality agriculture and digital technology, Cambodia's young people are becoming a genuine force to be reckoned with.

Arnaud Darc

Throughout his career, Arnaud Darc has contributed to this transformation. Firstly, by building well-known names in gastronomy, but also by promoting local know-how while injecting an international vision. In Koh Pich, he retraced this path, emphasising the values of passing on and training young talent, which he sees as the key to a Cambodia that is open to the world.

"Cambodia has nothing to expect by chance. It is we, its daily artisans, who must be its ambassadors", he stressed.

The role of the foreign eye

The conference was entitled ‘Cambodia through the eyes of the world’. But Arnaud Darc's view is not that of a mere visitor or a passing investor. It's a hybrid view, forged through experience on the ground, steeped in local realities but also capable of critical distance.

He was keen to point out that this exteriority could be transformed into a resource. Faced with the challenges of a country that is still confronted with social imbalances and sometimes hasty urbanisation, international experience can provide frameworks for comparison and inspirational benchmarks.

But he refused to adopt any paternalistic stance: his speech was based on a reappraisal of the Cambodian identity itself, drawing from its thousand-year-old history the strength to project a specific modernity.

Between memory and creativity

Cambodia,‘ he said, ’must not shy away from the complexity of its heritage, from Angkor to the contemporary era. Memory can be a driving force for creativity, as long as it is not frozen in nostalgia.

In the field of gastronomic tourism, Arnaud Darc argued for a modern interpretation of ancient flavours and traditions, capable of appealing to an international audience without betraying the essence of Cambodian cuisine.

He also stressed the role of artistic creation, design and visual communication, all areas in which the creative spark of Cambodia's youth, if supported, can propel the Kingdom onto the world map of cultural innovation.

A platform for young people

In recounting the successes and failures he has encountered along his entrepreneurial path, he wanted to show that Cambodia offers fertile ground for the boldest initiatives, provided they are backed up by rigour and perseverance.

"The future is not an abstract promise. It belongs to those who write it every day, here and now", he said.

A conference as a balancing point

It should be emphasised that the setting itself added to the symbolic force of this moment. The ‘Khmer Can Do’ fair, organised at the Koh Pich exhibition centre, embodied this desire to show the world an enterprising Cambodia, proud of its products, its talents and its ability to adapt.

In this context, the ‘Cambodia through the eyes of the world’ conference represented the moment of hindsight, the space for intelligence and dialogue that gave the fair added depth.

Between two stands of contemporary design and exhibitions of agri-food products, Arnaud Darc's talk gave the event its human and forward-looking dimension.

A lesson in commitment

Arnaud Darc's speech was not simply a celebration of success. It was permeated by a subtle lucidity that reminds us of the challenges still to be met. The infrastructures need to be consolidated, the training needs intensified, the need to open up more solid channels for intercultural dialogue... But far from being static, these problems became, in his view, opportunities, unifying projects capable of mobilising all the driving forces.

In this approach, he perfectly illustrated the uniqueness of his vision: an ability to combine admiration and high standards, optimism and pragmatism.

Arnaud Darc's speech, at the heart of a fair where the motto was ‘Khmer Can Do’, functioned not only as a tribute to present-day Cambodia, but also as a call to chart a new course.