SAFE Cambodia PPP Project of ASSIST Mekong and TUV Rheinland conduct CEO Forums on Food Safety

Sept. 7, 2011 - PRLog -- Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) in the Mekong region welcomed over a hundred guests to CEO Forums held for the SAFE Cambodia Project last July 12-15, 2011 in Babtambong, Siem Riep, Sihonok Ville, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Structured Program to Achieve Food Safety Excellence in Cambodia (SAFE Cambodia) is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative supported by TUV Rheinland and DEG. It seeks to instill mass awareness on international food safety and cleanliness standards amongst local SMEs operating in the agriculture and fishery industry.

Covering enterprises and villages with family-size businesses and fishery entrepreneurs, the project will also promote understanding and catalyze the implementation of the basic requirements of international management standards and regulations such as ISO 22000, HACCP and UNEP Resource Efficiency Model.

The target SMEs will be introduced to the international supply chain model, the expectations of international buyers and the importance of improving the safety, hygiene and resource efficiency practices to protect the health of the local community and boost exports of agriculture and fishery products.

By participating in this PPP project, SMEs will be able to share their knowledge and create a valuable network to guarantee long-term success.

ASSIST is an international non-government organization focused on capacity building. It seeks to promote sustainable practices to address social problems in the developing world, with focus on Asia and Africa. It takes pride in its process-oriented approach to capacity building towards social improvement and sustainable transformation. Its goal is to empower its target groups to make them resilient to the social, economic and environmental challenges.

It is presently based in Makati City, but also has operations in India and Vietnam and manages projects in over 10 countries. Through its Partner to Progress philosophy, it has successfully implemented such projects in collaboration with the European Union, United Nation Environment Program (UNEP), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), USAID, International Finance Corporation (IFC), GIZ, and DEG/ KFW amongst other organizations.

Meanwhile, the TÜV Rheinland Group is a leading provider of technical services worldwide. Since its foundation in 1872, TÜV Rheinland has been developing safe and sustainable solutions for the challenges arising from the interaction between man, the environment and technology. As an independent, neutral and professional organization, TÜV Rheinland is committed to working towards a future that can fulfill the needs of mankind and the environment in the long-term.

Finally, DEG is a member of the KfW Bankengruppe (KfW banking group), which finances investments of private companies in developing and transition countries. As one of Europe's largest development finance institutions, it promotes private business structures to contribute to sustainable economic growth and improved living conditions.#

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Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) is an international NGO focused on capacity building. It seeks to promote sustainable practices to address social problems in the developing world, with focus on Asia and Africa.