First Cambodia-Australia Exchange Festival set for Greater Dandenong in November

Herald Sun | September 15, 2014

Keysborough’s 28-year-old Kalyan Ky will see her dream of hosting an Australia-Cambodia trade exchange come to fruition later this year.

KALYAN Ky has spent seven years working on an initiative to drive economic growth and help end poverty in Cambodia — and it appears her hard work is finally paying off. 

The 28-year-old Keysborough woman’s dream of hosting Greater Dandenong’s first annual Cambodia-Australia Exchange Festival is coming to fruition in November.

Born in a Cambodian refugee camp, Ms Ky was Greater Dandenong’s Young Achiever of the Year in 2011, is a member on the Southern Metro Regional Advisory council, and was last week named an Australia Day ambassador.

In July, she set up The Angkor Exchange, with the goal of creating links between the nations, and during a recent trip to Cambodia she presented her ideas on job creation and trade to the Cambodian National Assembly.

“I really feel it’s going to have a massive impact — all you need is co-operation, and Australians are willing to help Cambodia by sharing skills and knowledge,” she said.

“For example, we’re hoping to create an exchange with Cambodia, whereby their farmers can come here and learn how to make their land into a profitable business.”

The Cambodia-Australia Exchange Festival will run from November 23 to December 24, and includes a Khmer Culture Day at Dandenong’s civic square on November 30. Members of the Royal Government of Cambodia will participate in talks on development, education, tourism, trade and investment in Australia.