For this week’s interview, Senior Communications Officer Stew Post met with Walter Dantis and Pauline Reina of TBC Global Partners. During a conversation at the group’s Koh Pich headquarters, they discussed the firm’s retail consultation services as well as its wide-ranging activities that cover everything from high-value tourism and investment guidance to SME support and skill development.

Stew: Can you briefly introduce yourselves and your roles at TBC Global Partners? What drew each of you to Cambodia?

Walter Dantis: I am the Partner & CEO of TBC Global Partners and the Founder of Turning Point Retail Consulting. With over 25 years in international retail and business leadership, I’ve held senior roles in managing and launching global brands like Escada, Kenzo, Roberto Cavalli, Laurel, Marks & Spencer, and Valentino across markets in the Middle East and South Asia. My journey to Cambodia was driven by a clear vision—to build a bridge between Cambodia’s immense untapped potential and international markets, investors, and retail brands.

Cambodia offered a unique combination: a fast-growing economy, a young and dynamic population, and a real need for structured consulting services in retail, investment facilitation, and business development. That’s where I saw the opportunity to make a long-term impact through our companies.

Pauline Reina: I serve as the Business Development Manager at TBC Global Partners. I started my career in Switzerland and have been living in Cambodia for over a year. My professional journey began in the diplomatic field, where I gained exposure to international affairs and policy. However, driven by a desire to better understand development challenges at the grassroots level, I made the decision to move to a developing country—leading me to Cambodia.

My early experience here in the NGO sector provided valuable insights into the social fabric of the country. Over time, I came to recognise the immense potential of the private sector as a driver of sustainable change. That realisation led me to TBC Global Partners, where I now contribute to projects that bridge global investment with local opportunity—across tourism, retail, SME development, and capacity building. Cambodia has proven to be a dynamic place to grow professionally and to be part of something meaningful.

Stew: Can you share more about TBC Global Partners’ mission—particularly your dual focus through Turning Point and The Better Cambodia?

Walter Dantis: TBC Global Partners is a Cambodia-based business consulting and investment support firm with a mission to connect Cambodia with international investors, companies, and knowledge partners. We act as the strategic gateway for foreign entities seeking to understand and enter the Cambodian market. We operate through three strategic pillars:

TBC Global Partners is our core consulting and investment facilitation arm, providing business entry services, investor support, government engagement, and sectoral insights. We specialise in market research, investor matchmaking, regulatory navigation, and project development across industries such as agriculture, healthcare, tourism, retail, and manufacturing.

Turning Point Retail Consulting is our specialist retail advisory division, focused on transforming Cambodia’s retail sector. We work closely with brands, mall operators, retailers, and franchisees to enhance retail performance—from store operations to staff training, visual merchandising, and retail expansion strategy.

The Better Cambodia is our nation-branding initiative that promotes Cambodia’s growth narrative through digital storytelling, diaspora engagement, and thought leadership. It plays a crucial role in changing international perceptions and attracting business interest.

Together, these initiatives allow us to consult, connect, and catalyse sustainable growth across sectors in Cambodia.

Stew: How does the idea of luxury and lifestyle tourism complement Cambodia’s existing cultural tourism strengths? In what ways can fashion and retail serve as a driver for tourism diversification?

Walter Dantis: Cambodia has historically been seen through the lens of heritage tourism—especially Angkor Wat and Khmer culture. While this remains a strong foundation, the global traveler today looks for integrated experiences: luxury, retail, wellness, gastronomy, and personalized itineraries.

We see luxury and lifestyle tourism as essential to elevating the country’s image among high-spending tourists from the Middle East, India, Europe, and ASEAN. It is also vital for creating tourism clusters around fashion retail, spas, fine dining, and bespoke experiences as well as strengthening urban tourism in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, complementing heritage tourism with modern lifestyle offerings.

Fashion and retail can play a catalytic role here. Flagship stores, luxury boutiques, and curated Cambodian brands can become part of the tourism experience—particularly if they tell stories rooted in Khmer heritage, craft, and design. Our retail consulting arm, Turning Point, supports these aspirations by designing experiences that merge global standards with local authenticity.

Stew: What are some of the biggest gaps or challenges you see in the fashion value chain here, and how are you working to address them?

Walter Dantis: Cambodia’s fashion and retail sector holds enormous potential, but it faces a few persistent challenges.

Notably, a skills gap in retail operations and customer service, a lack of formalised retail training institutions, underdeveloped visual merchandising and in-store experiences, and minimal exposure to international buying, pricing, and franchising practices are consistent issues faced in the sector. Limited support for global brands seeking soft landing in Cambodia is also a challenge.

At Turning Point Retail, we are directly addressing these challenges through retail training programs designed for store staff, floor managers, and brand teams; visual merchandising audits and store layout planning to improve customer engagement and sales and franchise advisory services to help brands expand strategically with the right partners.

We also support ongoing projects to develop a Retail Training Academy in Cambodia, in collaboration with regional education partners and brands as well as offering end-to-end project management for store launches—from design to execution.

Stew: The Better Cambodia focuses on fostering international business investment. What sectors are generating the most interest currently and what do opportunities in these spaces look like?

Walter Dantis: At The Better Cambodia and through our work with TBC Global, we’re seeing strong investor interest across several key sectors. Agri-processing and food exports — especially cashews, pepper, rice, and spices — are attracting a lot of attention. Cambodia’s healthcare and pharmaceutical distribution sector is also gaining momentum, thanks to growing market demand and improving infrastructure.

Another area generating interest is franchise retail and F&B, particularly from Indian and Middle Eastern markets. In hospitality, we’re seeing a rise in eco-tourism investments aimed at high-net-worth travelers. And of course, there’s a lot of excitement around emerging frontiers like technology, logistics, and clean energy.

To support these investments, TBC Global provides a full suite of services. We conduct market assessments, connect investors with verified local partners, facilitate government-level meetings, and carry out project feasibility analyses. We also ensure smooth post-entry operations, leveraging our local networks and on-ground support teams.

One initiative we’re especially excited about is what we call investment tourism. We invite potential investors to experience Cambodia through curated trips that blend business opportunities with cultural exploration. It’s a unique and effective way to showcase the country’s potential.

Stew: What are the next big projects or initiatives you’re excited to launch in the next 6–12 months? How do you see your engagement with EuroCham evolving—particularly with the Tourism & Hospitality Committee?

Walter Dantis: “The next 6 to 12 months are shaping up to be a really exciting period for us at TBC Global Partners and Turning Point Retail. We’re launching several high-impact initiatives that align with Cambodia’s broader growth goals.

First, we’re rolling out two major SME projects. One is a Books, Paper Products & Stationery Manufacturing unit under a new group brand. It’s designed to support Cambodia’s education ecosystem while reducing the country’s dependency on imported goods in this category. The second is a Food Processing and Distribution Project focused on value-added food products. The goal is to boost Cambodia’s self-sustainability, reduce post-harvest losses, and create jobs across the agri-food value chain.

We’re also expanding into luxury and business tourism consulting. We’re building a dedicated vertical that targets high-net-worth travelers, corporate delegations, and investment tourists from key markets like the Middle East, India, and Europe.

Another important milestone will be the launch of our Retail Skill Development Academy through Turning Point Retail. We’re finalising a training and certification program aimed at upskilling both staff and management in the retail sector. This will help raise service standards and build a more professional workforce in line with Cambodia’s modern retail evolution.

Finally, we’re preparing to lead business roadshows in India and the Gulf. These roadshows will promote Cambodia as an emerging investment destination, with a strong focus on agriculture, tourism, retail, and manufacturing.

Looking ahead, we’re eager to deepen our engagement with EuroCham, particularly through the Tourism & Hospitality Committee. There’s real potential for collaboration, especially in raising Cambodia’s profile in luxury tourism and showcasing new investment channels tied to the sector.

Stew: What advice would you give to international fashion or tourism brands looking to enter or expand in Cambodia?

Walter Dantis: My main advice to international fashion or tourism brands looking to enter or expand in Cambodia is simple: local knowledge is power. Cambodia is a promising market, but it’s also nuanced. It’s crucial to work with local partners who understand not only the regulatory landscape but also the consumer mindset.

Next, develop your brand with strategic inventory and pricing. Success here means aligning your global brand narrative with the aspirations of Cambodia’s emerging middle class—who are increasingly focused on quality, service, and fair value. That means offering the right product mix, tailored to local tastes, while using data to drive efficient inventory management and smart pricing decisions. Brands that come in focused only on short-term profits often miss the mark. Instead, think about building long-term brand equity and sustainable growth.

Another critical factor is investing in people. Great retail and hospitality experiences are driven by great teams. So, training and talent development should be at the heart of your market entry strategy.

And finally, plan for the long term. Cambodia rewards brands that are committed. With supportive policies for foreign investment and a fast-growing consumer base, the market holds huge potential—but only for those willing to understand it and grow with it over time.

And of course—TBC Global and Turning Point Retail are here to support that journey. We’d be happy to guide, connect, and help amplify your success in this exciting market.