Soreasmey Ke Bin: ‘Between borders, diplomacy and Francophone ambitions, Cambodia must think about the future’
- Christophe Gargiulo
- Aug 14
- 7 min read
Between a border dispute with Thailand, trade negotiations with the United States and preparations for the 2026 Francophonie Summit in Siem Reap, Soreasmey Ke Bin shares a clear vision: to defend Cambodia's interests while strengthening its regional and international ties. In this exclusive interview, the entrepreneur and Francophonie promoter for Southeast Asia discusses the strategic issues shaping the country's future.
What is your analysis of the current situation regarding the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, and what attitude should the country and its economic actors adopt in the face of this crisis?
This is a subject that is close to me: like many Cambodians, I have had several family members who served in one camp or another during the civil war, and I know the heavy price paid by soldiers and their loved ones.
From the very beginning of the hostilities, my position was clear: this is my country, and like all Cambodians, I gave my full support to our armed forces and to the Royal Government.
Tensions had been building for several weeks, and unfortunately it was predictable that the situation could escalate. I have lived in Cambodia for more than twenty years, and I was already here during the clashes around the Preah Vihear temple in 2008. What is striking is how little the situation has evolved since then, even though the International Court of Justice ruled in Cambodia’s favor.
The difference this time lies in the fact that some of our military units are better trained, better equipped, and better prepared than fifteen years ago, which explains the intensity of the fighting with, for the first time, the use of heavy artillery on both sides and, on the Thai side, air strikes. It should be remembered, however, that these clashes remained localized in a specific geographical area.
In such a crisis, it is important to trust the authorities to conduct negotiations and restore calm. Excessive communication, especially on social media, can actually inflame tensions and harm the national interest. And beyond the military aspect, we must remember that the Thais are our neighbors, partners, clients, and sometimes friends. This is true in my own case, having spent much time in Thailand.
This message of conciliation may surprise some, as I do not have a reputation for being politically moderate, but one must always distinguish between the causes of a conflict and the populations that endure it. Here, as in other conflicts, the Thais are just as much victims as we are.
The ceasefire in place since the end of July offers hope for a lasting settlement, under ASEAN’s auspices, with active mediation from the Trump administration, whose direct intervention helped bring about the end of the fighting. It is crucial that this conflict reach a comprehensive resolution: we cannot live indefinitely with blurred borders. Clear and recognized lines are essential to guarantee stability, both for security and for the economy.
The Trump administration recently announced new tariffs that will directly affect Cambodia. What is your analysis of this measure, and what impact do you anticipate for the country's economy?
President Trump and his administration continue to surprise, both in style and substance. Today, Cambodia can thank the American president for the end of the border clashes, but just a few weeks ago I am not sure his popularity here was quite so high.
When the initial announcement was made, Cambodia was hit with a 49% tariff - one of the highest in the world. The way it was presented, with a particular emphasis on our country, immediately raised fears of major economic repercussions.
One can criticize the brutality of this decision, but it is consistent with the program Donald Trump was elected on: “America First,” reindustrialization, and open protectionism. That is the choice of the American people, and it is their right; it is up to us, as partners, to negotiate to protect our interests.
The Cambodian negotiating teams must be commended: they secured an unprecedented reduction in this cycle, from 49% to 36%, and then to 19% today.
No other country has seen such a large drop. We may never know if the border conflict played a role in this “discount,” but it is in any case a true diplomatic success. The new rate is now comparable, or even lower, than that applied to several of our regional competitors. In practical terms, this greatly reduces the risk of American buyers diverting orders to other countries, and gives Cambodia a real opportunity to keep developing its industry towards higher value-added sectors, less sensitive to political and economic fluctuations.
That said, we should not get carried away too quickly: we are entering a new era of international trade, marked by the return of customs duties and a slowdown in exchanges.
Cambodia must position itself as a credible and sustainable alternative, attracting strong investors and long-term projects, rather than temporary establishments motivated solely by short-lived tariff advantages.
The country must therefore diversify its markets to reduce dependence on a small number of trading partners.
You recently returned from a trip to the Congo as part of your activities related to the Francophonie. Can you tell us more about this trip, the upcoming events, and how these initiatives help strengthen Cambodia’s place and influence in the French-speaking world?
Speaking of new markets, the Francophonie represents a major strategic opportunity, bringing together more than 80 member and observer states and governments, with over 320 million French speakers and nearly one billion inhabitants. That’s as many markets as there are consumers. Cambodia has a unique card to play as the most active Asian country in this space, capable of building economic, cultural, and institutional bridges with all of these partners.
It is also a diplomatic asset, as we saw recently when the Secretary General of the Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo, was one of the few international voices to openly support Cambodia’s call for international mediation during the conflict with Thailand.
I therefore travelled to Brazzaville, Congo, to take part in the Rencontre des Entrepreneurs Francophones (REF) at the invitation of the Alliance des Patronats Francophones (APF) and to observe how the event was organised by the local employers’ federation, my friends at UNICONGO. This was my third participation in a REF, and this edition was a real success, attracting nearly 1,000 foreign visitors and twice as many local participants. It was important for Cambodia to be present in order to prepare the handover and multiply contacts in the run-up to 2026.
In November 2026, on the sidelines of the Francophonie Summit, Cambodia will host the REF, coupled with the second edition of the FrancoTech fair, dedicated to innovation and Francophone start-ups.
As the APF’s ambassador for Southeast Asia, I am responsible for helping to coordinate these initiatives. On the institutional side, Minister Ing Kantha Phavi has been appointed to oversee all side events of the Summit. For my part, I am working with the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce, but also the French and Canadian chamber, to multiply initiatives and mobilise more delegations and companies.
Attracting several hundred foreign companies and investors at once is a unique opportunity. Not all of them will do business here, of course, but they must all “think Cambodia” when considering expansion in Asia - and for some, this should result in concrete projects.
How do you reconcile this commitment with the development of your main company, Confluences, and how do the two dynamics feed each other?
In reality, the two dynamics are closely linked.
The Francophonie Summit in Siem Reap in 2026 is already generating strong political and economic momentum. The expected visit of President Emmanuel Macron will mark the first time in more than 30 years that a French president has come to Cambodia - a rare window of opportunity in Franco-Cambodian relations that Confluences fully intends to seize.
We are officially recognized partners of several French economic entities - Business France, Bpifrance, and Bretagne Commerce International - which puts us at the heart of the preparatory initiatives. A majority of our clients are French, and some have major projects we hope to finalize during President Macron’s official visit.
This context creates real momentum. For example, in early September, French Foreign Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin will come to Cambodia with business delegations from MEDEF International and Business France.
It has been a long time since this level of direct economic engagement was seen here. Confluences is working alongside the French Embassy and the Chamber of Commerce to play a central role in welcoming and supporting these delegations.
If I can devote time to external commitments like preparing the Francophonie Summit, it is also because we have significantly reorganized Confluences. Our integration into the Tandem group has given us greater human and financial resources.
We have launched spin-offs by creating new companies with dedicated partners running operations: Convergences (HR services) and Concorde (development aid projects). On the same model, we are preparing to launch an M&A boutique firm. The market response has been so positive that we already have more cases than we can handle, to the point we have not yet been able to communicate officially.
At the same time, we have undergone an internal reorganization, a demanding and more difficult process than I expected. Several departures accompanied the transformation, and we are still filling some roles. But today, we are better structured - which is fortunate given the number of projects underway.
Like many companies, our first semester was not easy. Some projects were delayed significantly, and others will not happen at all. It is challenging and has put us under pressure, but we keep moving forward. We hope to finally see our flagship Immersive Angkor project through and should be able to launch at least two other major initiatives before year-end. That’s without counting projects developed by our clients - but as you can see, I have learned to be cautious with announcements.
Outside your professional activities, you have recently taken an interest in padel. Can you tell us more about this discovery and the role your hobbies play in your personal balance?
Strangely enough, this too started from business. French friends had told me about the success of padel in France. I had never played before, but after looking at the market I saw potential. I contacted clubs in the region and eventually started discussions with a group of French entrepreneurs developing the sport in Vietnam. Two of them had family ties with Cambodia, and it was not hard to convince them to take a closer look.
We supported them with the market study and in finding a location for their first club in Phnom Penh. In the end, we are not partners, but I am proud of this project.
Today, I play regularly, like a large part of the Confluences team. Their club attracts both expatriates and Cambodians, which is a real asset for the Phnom Penh community. A second site has already opened, and I know other groups are planning to launch clubs both in the capital and in Siem Reap.
It’s nice to think we were behind introducing this sport to the Kingdom. As for personal balance - I often find it through projects like these, involving people, hands-on work, and making things happen. That’s what motivates me every morning.