Ten Years in Office, Eighteen Years in Cambodia — Jean Lestienne Lays Out His Priorities for French Residents

With ten years in office and eighteen years living in Cambodia, Jean Lestienne, outgoing adviser for French citizens abroad, outlines his priorities for French people living in the country.

Jean Lestienne

“The entrepreneurs are builders of the future. They create jobs, pass on skills, introduce technologies and actively contribute to the prosperity of their adopted country. That is why I want to support them as a priority.

Everyone has the right to education and schooling. When families cannot afford it for financial reasons, it is our duty to help them. Investing in education is investing in the future, the dignity and the opportunities of each child.

Culture is an essential matter. We are fortunate to have many artists here in Cambodia. They carry the country’s identity, history and soul through their talent and creativity. Supporting culture and artists means preserving a living heritage while encouraging expression, innovation and the country’s influence. We must promote them more by giving them greater exposure.

Many administrative procedures become difficult for elderly people, even when they are not ill. Digital tools can be convenient for some, but for others they create isolation, stress and sometimes the feeling of being abandoned. Digital tools should be an aid, not an exclusive obligation. Elderly people still need human reception, notably by telephone. Insurance is crucial: there are solutions, whether local or through the CFE — we can help you with this.

Functioning of the Consular Council

I can state that I want to put in place an ambitious program, but no elected official can act alone. All decisions are taken within committees that meet according to the topics. We are generally three councilors, accompanied by members of the consulate.

Concerning school grants, for example, about ten people take part in the vote. No one can therefore claim alone the handling or granting of a file. If a councilor asserts that a scholarship or a specific request was obtained solely thanks to him, that would be false. Moreover, the debates remain confidential.

I must also acknowledge that, during my ten years in office, everything has always gone very well. That demonstrates that democracy truly works, since during the last term we exercised the presidency in rotation.

Another particularity concerns CFE files: the three of us vote, but whatever the result, it is ultimately the ambassador who makes the final decision, and his opinion remains decisive, even if we were all opposed to a decision — which has never happened.

It should also be known that all files related to financial aid are then re-examined in Paris. Whether for school grants, the STAFE or the OLES, it is of course their decision that prevails.

My wish is clear: I will do everything to defend and advance my ideas. I especially want to improve relations with the consulate and the embassy, and to facilitate visa applications as well as appointment scheduling. I also want the establishment of an honorary consul in Kampot, as we have one in Siem Reap, which provides many services.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Rika again for her commitment. Finally, I also rely on our deputies, senators and senators for all issues that must be dealt with at a higher level, notably through written questions taken up within both chambers.

A career shaped by commitment and experience

My name is Jean Lestienne. Established in Cambodia for eighteen years after a career carried out largely in export — in Africa, Latin America and Europe — I had the opportunity to travel extensively and to be expatriated several times, which allowed me to acquire solid experience of life abroad.

My path resembles that of many of you. My parents could not afford to pay for higher education; so I began working at 16 and carried out a 43-year career. Some say I am lucky to receive a pension… but it is not a question of luck: it is the fruit of work.

Wishing to move beyond my condition as a laborer, I took evening classes at Jussieu in order to reach a level sufficient to aspire to a better future. That allowed me to build a life more in line with my aspirations. At the same time, I became involved in unionism, an extremely formative experience that taught me self-confidence, the sense of compromise, the sharing of ideas and the importance of evolving social dialogue.

I then worked as export manager for South America and Africa. At the end of my career, after taking part in the management of a redundancy plan affecting 1,500 people, I felt the need to change my life, to leave, to move. A friend then suggested I come to Cambodia. There I discovered a magnificent region, and I found happiness by marrying a Cambodian woman with whom I had a child.

With three other friends, I invested in a hotel, which also allowed me to gain experience as an investor for several years.

But, as they say, old habits die hard. I quickly realized that certain areas — social affairs, insurance, schooling — lacked structures or communication to develop properly. So I threw myself back into associative life.

It was Mr. Garenne who invited me to participate in the AEFC, then Mr. Darc, who became president, entrusted me with the direction for Siem Reap for ten years. Later, the embassy closed the French Institute of Siem Reap for financial reasons, without real consideration for the hundred students affected. Three people then mobilized against this decision: Mr. Ferry, Mr. Bohême and myself, supported by numerous citizens.

We ultimately managed to open a French Alliance thanks to a partner, “Thalias.” Eight years later, I am still involved there as secretary.

We also had to go through the Covid period. I want to thank the Cambodian government, which managed that crisis effectively. All foreigners were notably vaccinated free of charge, even though our embassy brought in French vaccines primarily intended for staff and a few privileged people.

I will, however, add one caveat: the consul had entrusted public utility associations with an envelope of $30,000 to help people in difficulty, aid that could be combined with that of the consulate. Within our association, we chose to reimburse the work permit of certain entrepreneurs who committed to staying in Cambodia. These young entrepreneurs create jobs, pass on their know-how and contribute to the projection of our community.”