Go Communications buys Cambodian PR agency, eyes Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar

Active has a staff of more than 25 plus 180 field work support staff. Clients include Beeline, Ford, Coca-Cola, LG, Colgate Palmolive, Manulife, Aeon Micro Finance, BAT, Dumex and Phnom Penh Security. The Phnom Penh based agency will continue to be led by managing director Sisopheak Siet, who will be appointed to the GO Communications Group board of directors.

H.E. Khieu Kanharith, Cambodia’s minister of information, said at the press conference for the acquisition announcement: “The acquisition of Active Events has presented GO Communications with the expertise to penetrate the Cambodian market, leapfrogging the learning curve that many companies who enter this market without a local partner would have to go through.”

The 100 per cent Cambodian ‘buyout’, which follows the acquisition of Thailand PR agency DC Consultants in May 2012, is another step in the GO Communications Group's plans to create Asia’s Largest Independent Public Relations network.

“Part of our blueprint strategy is to have a solid network within the Mekong Delta, and it is now coming together very quickly,” said Michael de Kretser, GO Communications Group CEO. “The Group is also currently in serious negotiations to acquire PR agencies in Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar, seeing its fast growth and vast potential. The game plan is to complete the network by mid 2013.”

Active managing director Siet said: “As part of the GO Communications Group, we will now have greater resources to service and win more clients. We can tap into the Group’s skill-based network practices from ICT to tourism, health, government and FMCG.”