Cambodia has just finished a decade of dynamic growth, even by Asian standards. As the world and the region emerge from the recession, Cambodia's challenges, including infrastructure and institutional reform, are well known although not totally unique. In addition, however, Cambodia must meet the challenge of diversifying its economic base if it to maintain consistent, reliable growth in the coming years. This, in turn, will require foreign investment in sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, energy and services.

Ambassador Rodley and a panel of experts will discuss the current environment in Cambodia as a place to invest and do business, as well as prospects for the future.

About The Speakers

Ambassador Carol A. Rodley, U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia
Carol A. Rodley is a career officer in the Senior Foreign Service and was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia on October 24, 2008. Ambassador Rodley most recently served as a faculty advisor at the Foreign Service Institute after returning from assignment as Counselor for Political Military Affairs at the United States Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. Previously she served as Acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research from 2003 to 2006.

Ambassador Rodley served as Deputy Executive Secretary in the Executive Secretariat from 2001 to July 2003. From 1997 to 2000, she was Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Previous Washington assignments included Executive Assistant to the Bosnia Coordinator during the preparation for the Dayton negotiations and theinitial phase of Dayton implementation, Deputy Director of the Secretariat Staff, Cyprus desk officer in the Office of Southern European Affairs, Senior Watch officer in the Operations Center, and intelligence analyst in the Russia Division of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research. Overseas assignments have included Germany, South Africa, the Dominican Republic and Pakistan. From 2000-2001, Amb. Rodley attended the Department of State's senior leadership training course, the 43rd Senior Seminar, at the Foreign Service Institute.

Ambassador Rodley has been the recipient of the Department's Senior Performance Award, the State Department's Human Rights and Democracy Award, the American Foreign Service Association's Christian Herter Award for creative dissent, the James Clement Dunn Award for leadership, the Director of Central Intelligence Exceptional Humint Collector Award and an Intelligence Community Seal Medallion. Her languages are Khmer, German, Spanish, Urdu, and Hindi.

A native of Massachusetts and graduate of Smith College, Amb. Rodley is married to David Newhall and has three children, Alice, Niles, and Steven.

Bretton G. Sciaroni, Senior Partner, Sciaroni & Associate

Bretton G. Sciaroni, an American lawyer, is Senior Partner of Sciaroni & Associates. Working in Cambodia for 17 years, his firm represents many of the international companies operating in Cambodia. He serves on the Board of Directors of a number of banks and companies in Cambodia.

Mr. Sciaroni also serves as Chairman of the International Business Chamber and AmCham. He also is Co-Chairman, along with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Keat Chhon, of the Working Group on Law, Tax, and Good Governance (which is part of the system of consultation between the Royal Government and the business community).

Mr. Sciaroni also has served as Legal Adviser to the Royal Government of Cambodia in each of the four governments since the 1993 elections, with his most recent re-appointment occurring on October 10, 2008. The position, created by Royal Decree, carries with it the rank of Minister.

Colin Low, President, General Electric, Regional Executive – GE Growth Initiatives, Southeast Asia

As President, GE, Mr. Low is responsible for developing company-to-country strategies in the ASEAN region and developing commercial growth initiatives for GE which comprises four core businesses – GE Technology Infrastructure, GE Energy Infrastructure, GE Capital and NBC Universal. As GE has been growing at a rate of over 22 percent annually in ASEAN, Mr. Low is tasked with leading the GE Group initiatives to sustain this growth in his expanded role as Regional Executive of GE Growth Initiatives.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Low was the Managing Director and General Manager for South East Asia, GE Aviation - Aircraft Engines. During his term at Aircraft Engines, he created the winning strategy for Singapore Airlines (SIA) recent purchase of the GE90-115B engines to power its new fleet of 32 Boeing 777-300 extended range aircraft. The win at SIA (contract valued at over US$2B) has global significance in that it establishes a long-term commercial relationship with a world-class airline. Such wins enabled GE to have significant market presence and position the company well for growth in the region.

Mr. Low joined GE Aircraft Engines in 1999 as Director, Marketing & Sales, South Asia Pacific region and was responsible for the sales of new commercial aircraft engines, as well as GE Engine Services comprehensive repair and overhaul businesses.

In September 2005, he was appointed Director for GE Pacific Pte. Ltd., the holding company for GE's multiple investments in Asia that has a 2008 annual turnover of US$694 million. Colin is currently the Vice-Chairman of AmCham Singapore (AmCham). On April 20, 2009, he was appointed to the Board of Directors with Singapore International Chamber of Commerce (SICC) which provides a respected and effective voice for the business community, representing multinational investment interests in Singapore. In April 2009, he was appointed into the Board of Governors of the Spirit of Enterprise (SOE), a non-profit organization that helps to advance entrepreneurial talents and owners of small, medium enterprises including the education of young students to become entrepreneurs and businessmen in the long term. In November 2009, he was appointed Member of INSEAD Singapore National Council, with the mission to counsel INSEAD on its relationship with the business community in Singapore and on the development of the INSEAD business school. Other previous board appointments included the Vice-Chairmanship of the US Asean Business Council.

Mr. Low started his career in financial management at the Executive Office of the Governor of Illinois, James Thompson (Republican), in 1987 as a Budget & Program Analyst. He received his MBA degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1987. He also graduated with B.Sc (Honors) - Management and B.Sc (Honors) - Marketing in 1985. Colin's career assignments included Corporate Planning, Mergers and Acquisitions, Business Development, Marketing and Program Management for Risk Revenue Share Partnerships and Strategic Alliances in the aerospace industry.

Michael C. Stephen, Managing Director, Stephen & Co

Chairman of Cambodia Mekong Bank, Mr. Stephen has been associated with the bank since its founding in 1994. Mr Stephen is also Managing Director of Stephen & Co Ltd, a Singaporebased regional consulting firm. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the American Cambodian Business Council and a Governor of the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore.

Previously, Mr. Stephen was Executive Vice President of Asian Finance and Investment Corporation, the merchant banking affiliate of the Asian Development Bank. In his earlier career, Mr Stephen spent 22 years in international finance with JP Morgan & Co., including 10 years based in Manila.

A graduate of Dartmouth College, Mr Stephen began his career in Military Intelligence and later served with the U.S. Department of State. Mr Stephen has lived and worked in the United States, France, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore and Cambodia.

David Sim Swee Choon, Director and Shareholder of Attwood Group in Cambodia

Mr. David Sim Swee Choon is Director and Shareholder of Attwood Group in Cambodia, a diversified business group, with interest including real estate, infrastructure development (Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone) Hotel and distribution of FMCG especially soft drinks, beer and spirits. His other business include agency for Osim health care and Haier electrical products.

Being in business in Indo-China, including Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand for closed to 20 years, Mr. Sim have a good business understanding and network throughout the region. Mr. Sim has a few personal business ventures and investments with local partners in the region, including real estate, furniture factory, and IT services.

Mr. Sim is very active in golf and social activities in Cambodia, was captain of the famous BUAYA Club for 7 years, and is also the Vice-President of the Singapore Club.

Akther Ahmed, President, New Emerging Markets, Microsoft South East Asia

Akther is responsible for New Emerging Markets that includes Sri-Lanka and a strategic focus area for Microsoft. Prior to Microsoft, Akther was based in the US as Vice President of Worldwide alliances at TATA Consultancy Services. Akther was responsible for partner programs and strategies, management of corporate relationships with key technology partners, and field alliance initiatives. Akther led a shift in the company's approach to partners that fostered a strategic engagement with the partner community involving deeper engagement at an executive and field level which resulted in an exponential increase of alliance influenced revenue. In total, he brings 15 years experience in the high tech sector, starting out at Intel Corporation in numerous engineering roles. From there he joined a semiconductor equipment company - EPRO (then acquired by Credence Systems) as VP of Sales and Marketing. Akther led Credence Systems' successful entry and expansion into the Japanese market. From Credence Systems, Akther went on to become co-founder and CEO of Xavient Technologies – IT outsourcing firm with delivery center based in India.

Akther has a B.S and MS in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University. He also holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business. He is an advisor to a number of Venture Capitalist firms and holds advisory board positions in a number of start-ups.

Registration

Registration must be received by February 26, 2010. Additional $20.00 will be imposed to registrations after the deadline and at the door. Cancellation notice must be sent within 2 days prior to the event date. No-shows will be billed. Only credit card payment is accepted for registration. No reminders will be sent.

To sign up, please fill up the above registration form and e-mail to Farah Shahab at fshahab@amcham.org.sg or fax to 6732 5917.