The Phnom Penh Post - ENGLISH: “Tens of thousands take to streets” plus 1 more

THE first day of the Cambodia National Rescue Party's planned demonstrations kicked off this morning at the capital's Freedom Park with tens of thousands turning out to see party leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha.

Rainsy said today that the demonstrations, initially planned to be a three-day long event, would continue until election irregularities are properly investigated.

"The demonstrations will continue if our demands [for justice] are not met," he told the roaring crowd this morning.

The Ministry of Interior has said the protests must end by 6pm today, raising the prospect of a possible forced removal this evening of demonstrators – many of whom are planning to camp out overnight.

Despite explosives being found in sensitive locations, including Freedom Park, on Saturday, the turnout this morning suggests ordinary Cambodians are not scared.

A festival-like atmosphere engulfed the park and its surrounding streets for most of the morning with the crowd, decked out in stickers and hats and bearing signs such as "Where is my vote?" and "Long live democracy", joyously dancing following the leaders' speeches.

Many rural protestors said they had come to the capital in large convoys of buses and trucks.

Around noon, thousands followed Rainsy and Sokha in a march down Sothearos Boulevard towards the Royal Palace.

The CNRP leaders managed to slip through a barbed-wire checkpoint blocking the road near Wat Ounalom and were followed by protestors who toppled and dragged away the barricades as riot police loaded their tear gas canisters and looked on.

Following a short speech from Rainsy outside the palace, demonstrators were eventually ushered back down Sothearos Boulevard towards Wat Phnom by CNRP officials, who despite being able to control the crowd's movements, could not control their whoops and cheers in the face of stoic military and police officers.

Although a few isolated confrontations almost erupted between protestors and police at several barricades in the city centre, the actions of both CNRP youth leaders to defuse tensions and the calm response of police meant the first day of protests has thus far come off without serious incident.

Demand for baby and mother-care products in Cambodia is growing, as are expectations for quality goods. Roy M Chy, general director of distributor Baby Mother Group Corporation, sat down with the Post's Laura Ma to discuss the trend.

Can you tell us a little about your company?
We import and distribute international brands of baby and mother care products. I started with Baby Mart in 2005, just a small business selling baby care products.

At the time, there wasn't much out there in the way of quality. I had just had my first child and felt like there was something missing in Cambodia. Baby care products were only available at local markets. So I started a small shop and in a year and a half we expanded into the BMG Corporation that it is now.

What are the main brands you deal with?
Farlin, from Taiwan, Mothers-en-Vogue from Singapore, Graco from the US and Aprica from Japan. Our main dealers [stores that sell BMG imports] are specialised baby shops. We supply to Lucky Supermarket now, but they don't have the full range that we have.

What's the competition like in the industry?
Before I started BMG, there were only three baby stores. Now there are more than 50 shops, I think every month they open one or two.

Some are new businesses; some are branches from retailers already here. For mother care products, the market is small compared to the baby care market here.

It still grows, but slower than the baby care products. Mothers feel like there is less of a need for things like maternity dresses or nursing dresses.

How's business?
We've grown more than 200 per cent in revenue since 2007. At least 35 per cent growth between 2011 and 2012. In Phnom Penh it was around 50 per cent, but it's slower in the provinces. Siem Reap was around 20 per cent. Out of the 20 provinces, we are now in at least 15.

Who are your main customers?
So far, locals make up 80 per cent, expats 20 per cent. The market we deal with is mostly the local middle-class and rich people. In Siem Reap, locals are 60 per cent, expats around 40 per cent because of people who come in owning hotels and restaurants.

How do you account for the continued growth?
There is an expanding middle class here. I expect in two or three years, as the middle class grows, more people will start to change their mind and want to select more premium items.

And everybody is anticipating more business from the Asean Economic Cooperation, which is expected to commence in 2015.

How does this market cater to current demographics?
Cambodia has a lot of young people. They will be the "modern" parents. They will only have one or two babies. They can spend more on their baby, so they will buy the premium baby care products. When people have fewer children, they have more purchase power.

How do BMG's imported products compete against cheaper products from Vietnam and Thailand?
Vietnam and Thailand are still strong in the low and medium quality markets. But consumerism is changing in Cambodia. They are seeing the value of better quality.

Not only can bad quality products affect a baby's health, they can't be used for long. So, in the long term, it's a fair deal.

Our imported products from Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan are surpassing sales of products from Thailand and Vietnam.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity