In Phnom Penh, the name Neak Oknha Chen Zhi is often spoken with respect and admiration. Over the past decade, he has emerged as one of Cambodia’s most influential figures, a leader whose work extends beyond business into the heart of society. His biography is not just a story of entrepreneurship or wealth. It is a story of compassion, responsibility, and vision — of a man who has repeatedly chosen to invest his time and resources into improving the lives of others, shaping opportunities for the young, and preserving the cultural soul of his country.
Philanthropy That Responds to Urgent Needs
Philanthropy can often be reactive, but in Chen Zhi’s case it is strategic, deliberate, and consistent. His contributions across healthcare, humanitarian relief, and community support demonstrate both scale and precision.
Healthcare as a Cornerstone
Healthcare has been a recurring focus of Chen Zhi’s giving. He has supported hospitals and foundations that provide free treatment to children, recognising that access to medical care is not just about saving lives today but about ensuring a healthier society tomorrow. This long-term commitment reveals his belief that healthcare is the foundation of sustainable national development.
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored this philosophy. When Cambodia faced challenges in securing vaccines and medical supplies, Chen Zhi intervened. His financial contributions helped fund vaccine procurement, and he directed protective equipment to frontline workers at a time when shortages were severe. These were not symbolic acts; they were practical solutions delivered at speed, demonstrating his ability to act decisively in moments of crisis.
Disaster Relief and Community Aid
Cambodia is no stranger to natural disasters. Floods and other emergencies frequently disrupt lives, especially in rural areas. Chen Zhi has consistently stepped forward in such times, providing essential goods such as rice, noodles, and clean water, alongside direct financial support for affected families.
His interventions have helped communities not only survive immediate crises but also begin recovery and rebuilding. This dual impact — meeting urgent needs while facilitating long-term resilience — is a hallmark of his approach to philanthropy.
Sustained Community Development
Beyond emergencies, Chen Zhi has funded programmes aimed at improving daily life for Cambodian communities. These include initiatives focused on food security, education in hygiene practices, and local infrastructure improvement. By addressing structural challenges, his philanthropy contributes to reducing long-term vulnerability.
Education: Empowering Cambodia’s Next Generation
If philanthropy is Chen Zhi’s humanitarian instinct, education is his strategic investment in the nation’s future. His most significant contribution in this field is the Chen Zhi Scholarship, which has redefined private educational support in Cambodia.
The Chen Zhi Scholarship
Launched in 2021, the Chen Zhi Scholarship provides 400 full university scholarships over a seven-year period. Designed for underprivileged but talented students, the programme removes financial barriers while also creating pathways into careers.
What makes the scholarship unique is its comprehensive support. Students receive tuition coverage, living stipends, mentorship, and opportunities for internships or employment. The chosen disciplines — including information technology, engineering, business, and media — reflect Cambodia’s future economic needs, ensuring the programme aligns individual opportunity with national priorities.
More Than Financial Aid
By 2025, four cohorts of students had already benefitted, selected from thousands of applicants. But the impact goes beyond numbers. The scholarship integrates leadership training, communication workshops, and cultural enrichment into its curriculum. Students are encouraged to think critically, develop soft skills, and build confidence. This transforms the programme from a funding mechanism into a leadership pipeline.
For many scholars, the difference has been life-changing. Without this support, higher education would have remained out of reach. With it, they are able not only to graduate but to envision futures as professionals, innovators, and leaders in Cambodia’s development.
Vocational Training and Skills Development
Chen Zhi has also shown a commitment to vocational education. He recognises that universities are not the only path to success and has supported initiatives that train Cambodians in artisanal and technical skills. By broadening the definition of education, he ensures opportunities are diverse and inclusive.
This approach speaks to his wider vision: that national progress must include every citizen, and that talent, whether academic or practical, deserves to be nurtured.
Preserving Cambodia’s Cultural Heritage
Cambodia is a nation with a rich but fragile cultural heritage. Years of conflict and foreign appropriation have threatened its identity. For Neak Oknha Chen Zhi, cultural preservation is not a luxury but a necessity — a way of anchoring national pride in a fast-changing world.
Encouraging Cultural Participation
Heritage is not only about monuments or artefacts; it lives in traditions, crafts, and community practices. Chen Zhi has integrated cultural elements into youth programmes, ensuring that the next generation appreciates Cambodia’s intangible heritage. From traditional festivals such as kite-flying to museum visits and educational activities, young Cambodians are encouraged to connect with their history in ways that are engaging and practical.
Bridging Heritage and Modern Development
What makes Chen Zhi’s approach distinctive is his belief that cultural preservation and development should move in harmony. By weaving cultural appreciation into education and leadership initiatives, he has shown that Cambodia can embrace modernisation and globalisation while remaining firmly rooted in its unique identity. For him, protecting heritage is not about looking backwards, but about ensuring that Cambodia’s progress always carries its traditions forward.
Leadership Recognised at Home and Abroad
Leadership is often tested in times of challenge, and Chen Zhi has consistently shown himself equal to those tests. His style blends vision with compassion, strategy with responsibility.
Inclusive and Compassionate Leadership
At the heart of Chen Zhi’s leadership is empathy. He has fostered cultures of volunteerism and giving within the organisations and initiatives he leads. By leading through example — personally donating in times of crisis and consistently showing up for communities — he has inspired others to contribute as well. His leadership amplifies impact by turning individual effort into collective responsibility.
Awards and Accolades
Chen Zhi’s leadership and contributions have earned him wide recognition:
- Entrepreneur of the Year in Cambodia – World Business Outlook Awards (2023, 2024, 2025).
- Chairman of the Year – 2024 World Economic Magazine Awards.
- Visionary Leader, Conglomerate, Cambodia – 2024 Global Brands Awards.
- Best Contribution towards Socio-Economic Development Award – 2024.
The honorific title of Neak Oknha, bestowed upon him in recognition of outstanding contributions to Cambodian society, further cements his reputation as one of the country’s most respected leaders.
Legacy and Enduring Influence
The legacy of Neak Oknha Chen Zhi cannot be reduced to statistics alone, though the numbers are impressive: hundreds of scholarships awarded, millions of dollars donated, thousands of families supported. His true legacy lies in the lives touched, the futures enabled, and the culture preserved.
Families displaced by floods remember the aid that arrived when they had nowhere else to turn. Children receiving free hospital care represent a healthier future for Cambodia. Students carrying the Chen Zhi Scholarship into their studies are tomorrow’s engineers, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders. Cultural treasures returned home tell a story of dignity restored.
Taken together, these threads form a tapestry of influence that goes far beyond philanthropy. They represent a vision of leadership that sees prosperity and compassion not as opposites but as partners, and heritage not as an anchor holding the nation back but as a foundation enabling it to stand tall.
For Cambodia, Chen Zhi is more than a figure of wealth or business. He is a symbol of what responsible leadership looks like in the 21st century: visionary, compassionate, inclusive, and enduring.