Ly Puoy (R2) and his colleagues work at the construction site.
Over the past two decades, POWERCHINA has grown in Cambodia from an overseas pioneer into a company with a strong localized workforce and an impressive portfolio of landmark projects. It has built roads, bridges, hydropower stations and water conservancy facilities across the country, bringing "Made in China" into the everyday lives of countless Cambodian families. Behind these achievements are generations of Cambodian employees, who devoted the best years of their lives to POWERCHINA's grassroots projects.
This year, as the company marks the 20th anniversary of its entry into the Cambodian market, it received a heartfelt letter of appreciation. The author was Ly Puoy, a Cambodian employee who worked for the company for 12 years. Between the lines is the story of a lasting bond between an ordinary Cambodian and a Chinese enterprise.
"Dad, what did you do before?" Not long ago, Ly Puoy's youngest son climbed onto his lap and looked up to ask him. Holding his son's small hand, Ly Puoy felt a wave of warmth in his heart. He smiled and replied, "Dad used to work at POWERCHINA. I worked there for 12 years, from 2008 to 2020. Those are the years I miss the most."
Ly Puoy joined POWERCHINA as an interpreter in 2008. At the time, he could not understand engineering drawings or construction procedures, and even technical terms such as "hub" and "canal system" were completely new to him. Leaders and colleagues in the project department would spread blueprints across the table in the site office, patiently explaining every detail with a red pen. Experienced engineers would repeatedly answer his questions while standing ankle-deep in mud and water. "Even though I learned slowly, no one ever lost patience with me." More than a decade later, he still remembers that kindness.
During his 12 years with the company, Ly Puoy worked on the Achang Irrigation Development Project, the Koh Puos Bridge, the Union No 1 Bridge, the bridge at the Stung Atay Hydroelectric Power Project, the Sihanoukville Container Yard and many other projects. During work on the Achang Irrigation Development Project, he participated throughout the entire process. Step by step, he grew from an interpreter into an assistant project manager, and later became the overall coordinator for Cambodian employees, leading a team of local colleagues.
One scene remains vivid in his memory. After fields had lain dry for half a year, water finally flowed into the irrigation canals. Local villagers gathered by the channel. Some crouched down, scooped up the water with both hands and smiled so broadly that their eyes nearly disappeared. Standing on the edge of the field, Ly Puoy suddenly realized how meaningful his work truly was.
Construction sites are more than places of hard work and demanding challenges. On nights when everyone worked past midnight and exhaustion left them speechless, someone would quietly hand him a cup of hot water. Whenever a difficult task left him anxious and sweating, a colleague would pat him on the shoulder and say, "Take it slowly. We'll figure it out together." These small moments accumulated over 12 years into memories of immeasurable value.
At POWERCHINA, Ly Puoy learned far more than how to build bridges and dams. He also learned lessons that would guide him throughout his life: keep promises, work with dedication, and when one person cannot carry the burden alone, everyone steps in together. After leaving the company to start his own business, he continued to live by these principles. Wherever he went, he proudly introduced himself by saying, "I was trained by POWERCHINA."
Although he left the company years ago, Ly Puoy has never stopped caring about its development. Whenever he hears about a new project or an important construction milestone, he eagerly shares the news with relatives, friends and fellow professionals, recalling the projects he once worked on with genuine pride.
At the end of his letter, Ly Puoy wrote: "No matter how much I say, I can never fully express my gratitude. Thank you, POWERCHINA, for giving me a job that not only supported my family, but also gave me confidence. Thank you to every Chinese mentor and colleague who taught and helped me. It was you who helped an ordinary Cambodian young man grow into someone capable of taking on responsibility."
Ly Puoy's story reflects POWERCHINA's long-standing commitment to cultivating local talent in Cambodia. Over the past 20 years, the company has remained rooted in the local community, investing in people through technical training and sincere partnerships. It has nurtured generations of capable local professionals like Ly Puoy, who have grown alongside the company and become a vivid testament to the enduring friendship and shared development between China and Cambodia.
