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Interview with Hong Lai Huat

Interview Hong Lai Huat: Real estate in Cambodia promises high margins

  • Real Estate
  • Cambodia
  • Singapore
Photo credits: Hong Lai Huat

Cambodia offers breathtaking beaches, the world wonder of the Angkor Wat temples and an emerging economy: the rating agency Fitch expects growth of 4.7% in 2022. In this interview, Dylan Ong, General Manager and Executive Director of Hong Lai Huat, explains the opportunities offered by Cambodia's real estate market, why the Group has an edge over other investors, and which joint venture could generate big fantasy as early as 2022.

time to read: 6 minutes | The interview was conducted by Nico Popp on April 6th, 2022 in Singapore (SG).

Dylan Ong, General Manager and Executive Director, Hong Lai Huat

Dylan Ong
General Manager and Executive Director | Hong Lai Huat
10 Bukit Batok Crescent, #13-05, The Spire, S658079 Singapore (SG)

general@hlh.com.sg

+65 6861 0330

Table of contents:


    Several years of experience

    news|financial: "Hong Lai Huat has been involved in real estate development since 1988. First in Singapore, now also in Cambodia. How do you benefit from your years of experience?"

    Dylan Ong, General Manager and Executive Director, Hong Lai Huat
    "[...] Investors from the rest of Asia, in particular, feel comfortable partnering with Hong Lai Huat to invest in an emerging market like Cambodia. [...]" Dylan Ong, General Manager and Executive Director, Hong Lai Huat

    Especially when you enter a new market, challenging situations arise. Different legal frameworks, processes, and new construction companies always require you to be flexible as a builder and make adjustments step by step. However, we have now completed the first projects and can justifiably claim to have arrived in Cambodia. We already knew many potential pitfalls from our many years of work and were therefore well prepared. As a Singapore-based company marketing apartments and retail outlets in Cambodia to both locals and foreigners, we see ourselves perfectly positioned. Investors from the rest of Asia, in particular, feel comfortable partnering with Hong Lai Huat to invest in an emerging market like Cambodia.


    Growth market - Cambodia

    news|financial: "In recent years, you have launched several projects in Cambodia, some of which have already been completed. Why is Cambodia so interesting for real estate projects?"

    Cambodia combines the trend of a long-term appreciation of real estate prices with the characteristics of a true tiger economy. The country stands out positively even within Asia when we take a closer look at its growth rates. Compared to saturated markets, such as Singapore, real estate investors still find great opportunities in Cambodia. The reason is that there are not yet so many market players operating in Cambodia. For us, this means higher margins. Coupled with the experience already gained in Cambodia, Hong Lai Huat has everything it takes to implement successful long-term projects in Cambodia.


    Lessons learned

    news|financial: "What experience from the D'Seaview project, completed in 2020, with 737 residential units and 67 commercial units, will you take with you for the larger Royal Platinum project and other projects?"

    Dylan Ong, General Manager and Executive Director, Hong Lai Huat
    "[...] The concrete lessons learned are manifold and relate, for example, to the concrete synchronization of work processes. All the local stakeholders now know each other, making cooperation easier in many areas. [...]" Dylan Ong, General Manager and Executive Director, Hong Lai Huat

    D'Seaview was a project where the processes had to be right - after all, 737 residential units is no small number. In retrospect, the fact that we successfully completed the project confirms the trust investors placed in our Company from the moment we announced our expansion into Cambodia. The concrete lessons learned are manifold and relate, for example, to the concrete synchronization of work processes. All the local stakeholders now know each other, making cooperation easier in many areas. However, our local employees report first and foremost that during the sale of the apartments, they now understood even better how the market works and what customers expect. This experience will be incorporated into further projects and improve the buyers' experience with Hong Lai Huat.


    Target groups

    news|financial: "Who are the buyers of your apartments? Are you possibly developing new target groups?"

    We are tapping into new target groups, yes. Cambodia is an emerging country that is gaining traction in Asia. However, it was important to us from the outset not to launch projects purely for foreign investors. We are aiming for a heterogeneous ownership structure. For example, around 55% of the buyers of D'Seaview's apartments are from Cambodia, while the rest are investors from abroad who mainly use the apartments themselves.
    The upcoming Toul Kork District project is expected to appeal even more to Cambodia's emerging middle class. So here we expect an even larger proportion of Cambodians. Especially in emerging markets, it is essential not to invest in speculative objects but in needed projects. We are, therefore, particularly pleased about the response from buyers from Cambodia.


    Potentials of the Agri Hub mega project

    news|financial: "The Agri Hub is considered a long-term, 100,000,000-square-foot project. Please outline what the project is expected to offer in the next few years and where the journey could take you!"

    Dylan Ong, General Manager and Executive Director, Hong Lai Huat
    "[...] We intend to develop the Agri Hub through joint ventures and the sale or lease of land, which will provide the Group with several diversified income streams. [...]" Dylan Ong, General Manager and Executive Director, Hong Lai Huat

    Covering about one-seventh of Singapore, the Agri Hub is a gigantic project, about an hour from the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. According to our master plan, the Agri Hub will consist of various zones, including light industry with solar roofing, fish farms with solar roofing, food processing, and commercial and residential zones.
    The targeted first phase of development is expected to have a gross development value of USD 1 billion. We intend to develop the Agri Hub through joint ventures and the sale or lease of land, which will provide the Group with several diversified income streams. For example, the Group has entered into a partnership with HSC Group for the exploration and mining of mineral resources in Agri Hub. The joint venture is close to regulatory approval.


    Authorities

    news|financial: "Speaking of authorities, what is cooperation like with the officials in Cambodia?"

    In exchanges with authorities, it quickly becomes clear that the country is on the verge of major development. Officials recognize the opportunities that come with construction projects and show themselves to be cooperative. Since we have already advanced several projects in Cambodia, both sides have a great deal of trust.


    Approval process

    news|financial: "How long does it take in Cambodia to implement a construction project from the idea to the start of construction? Is the market equally accessible for all market players to enter, or does Hong Lai Huat have a strategic advantage over newcomers?"

    Typically, it takes about two to three years to complete construction in Cambodia. Hong Lai Huat was an early entrant in Cambodia and has been operating in the country since 2007/2008. That has helped the Group build business networks in the Kingdom and understand the business environment in Cambodia, which gives us a competitive advantage over our peers.


    Cambodia's comeback

    news|financial: "What role has the pandemic and ongoing shutdowns in China played in Cambodia's economic activity? Skeptics might suggest that the formerly emerging Southeast Asian economies are suffering from the current circumstances."

    Dylan Ong, General Manager and Executive Director, Hong Lai Huat
    "[...] Fitch forecasts real GDP of 4.7% in 2022. [...]" Dylan Ong, General Manager and Executive Director, Hong Lai Huat

    Since November 2021, Cambodia has reopened its borders to overseas travelers, as nearly 90% of the population has been vaccinated. That is expected to help Cambodia achieve a strong economic recovery. Fitch forecasts real GDP of 4.7% in 2022. Cambodia's industrial and agricultural sectors support economic growth. We assume that these sectors will continue to provide solid support for the further development of Cambodia's economy.


    Perspective from Hong Lai Huat

    news|financial: "You recently reported strong earnings and a dividend of SGD 0.002 per share. What was the reason for the solid numbers, and where do you expect to go in the current fiscal year?"

    Hong Lai Huat saw a turnaround in earnings in FY2021 as revenue more than doubled. This was supported by stronger property sales in Cambodia as business activities resumed in the second half of 2021. Gross profit margin also increased to 62% in 2021 from 38% in the previous fiscal year.

    With the reopening of the Cambodian borders, we expect property sales to remain positive as the Group continues to market its properties to be sold in Royal Platinum and D'Seaview. Should our joint venture around mining receive regulatory approval for mining in Agri Hub, this could provide a new source of revenue for the Group in the coming years.


    Anchor shareholders and private investors in the same boat

    news|financial: "The Ong family owns around 47% of Hong Lai Huat's shares. Who are the important anchor shareholders?"

    Dylan Ong, General Manager and Executive Director, Hong Lai Huat
    "[...] Because of our substantial stake in the Company, management's interests are strongly aligned with those of the minority shareholders. [...]" Dylan Ong, General Manager and Executive Director, Hong Lai Huat

    The shares are mainly held by my father, brother and mother. Because of our substantial stake in the Company, management's interests are strongly aligned with those of the minority shareholders. Over the past year, the Ong family has been actively increasing its stake in the market as a sign of support for the Group's business, and we believe the Group's share price has great potential.


    news|financial: "Thank you very much for talking to us."

    • Real Estate
    • Cambodia
    • Singapore


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