Canadian Mining Company Social Star in Cambodia

Developing Cambodia's commercial mining sector, Angkor Gold puts social responsibility first

Investors inspect the construction site of Cambodia's first commercial gold mine in Ratanakiri Province, Eastern Cambodia, on Feb. 6, 2015. Mesco Group of India is planning to complete the construction project and start mining until the end of 2015. Valentin Schmid/EpochTimes

BANLUNG CITY, Cambodia—They come and just rob the local people of their resources. Whether it’s North Dakota or Cambodia, that’s how most oil and mining companies are perceived to do business. Angkor Gold Corp. is different. 

For the Canadian mining and exploration company operating in eastern Cambodia, corporate social responsibility (CSR) comes before the first hole is drilled in the ground—and not just in the corporate presentation.

“It’s the right thing to do. To do nothing when we have some ability to help residents in a country where we are the foreigners, would be completely unacceptable. That’s the philosophy of our entire team,” said Delayne Weeks, VP of corporate social responsibility.

We try to treat people the same way that we would like to be treated.

— Delayne Weeks, Angkor Gold