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Lily Lim Honored with AWEN Outstanding Entrepreneur Award
From Village Dreamer to Regional Leader: Lily Lim Honored with AWEN Outstanding Entrepreneur Award
Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Cambodian Travel Partner and Cambodiajeep are thrilled to announce that their owner, Ms. Lily Lim, has won the prestigious ASEAN Women Outstanding Entrepreneur Award 2025. The award was presented on November 21st during the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network (AWEN) Award Gala Night at Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra.
What is AWEN and CAMWEN?
ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs’ Network (AWEN)
The ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs’ Network is a regional network encompassing women’s organizations and entrepreneurs from the 10 ASEAN member states. Its mission is to promote women’s entrepreneurship, enhance their capacity, and boost networking by exchanging knowledge and proposing initiatives to strengthen economic and trade activities across the region. AWEN provides a platform for advocating policies that benefit women in business and hosts significant events like the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Conference and Awards.
Cambodian Women Entrepreneurs Network (CamWEN)
CamWEN is the Cambodian Women Entrepreneurs Network, an organization that promotes and supports women in business in Cambodia. It is a network for women entrepreneurs from micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, aiming to amplify their voices, build national and regional connections, and foster economic empowerment. The organization is also a proud member of the larger ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs’ Network (AWEN).
The Inspiring Story of Lily Lim
Lily grew up in a small village in Kampong Cham province. Most people in her village were farmers, earning a living from planting and harvesting rice. Every time Lily saw a plane fly overhead, she had one dream: to fly and to travel the world.
She moved with her family to the big city of Phnom Penh, where she was given the chance to study and learn English. Through several initial jobs, she secured an opportunity to work at André’s travel agency. This was her first step into the world of travel. She was so passionate that she taught herself everything she could, diving into the subject matter to master it.
She began as an administrative assistant, later taking on guiding roles to lead tourists across Cambodia. Her journey continued with the opening of a hotel, and she eventually launched two of her own companies: Cambodian Travel Partner and Cambodiajeep.
Her great strength is her belief that nothing is impossible. She has proven this repeatedly. Where some might give up, she perseveres until the job is done. Of course, she could not have done it alone. The help of her husband, André, who has always supported her and helped build the company, was instrumental. The saying goes, “Behind every strong man stands a strong woman,” but in this case, behind every strong woman stands a strong man.
We must also not forget the dedicated team of employees, guides, drivers, and others who have helped both companies grow. Therefore, we offer a deep bow to all the employees who have worked in both companies over the years and those who are still with us. They are the true strength within the company.
The Path to the Award
The President of CATA (Cambodian Association of Travel Agents), Madam Sivlin, had asked Lily several times to participate in the Women Entrepreneur Award competition. Each time, Lily politely declined, citing that she was too busy with numerous projects and perhaps also feeling she couldn’t compete with larger corporations.
This year, Madam Sivlin asked Lily again, but this time she insisted that Lily must participate in the competition. Finally, Lily agreed.
In front of a jury of prominent figures, including the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Lily presented her story. She faced many challenging questions and answered all of them exceptionally well. In fact, she was later informed that she had earned the highest score, placing first in the Cambodian Women Entrepreneur Awards. This is a fantastic affirmation of her hard work over the past 20 years.
The ASEAN Women Entrepreneur Network Gala
The big day was November 21, 2025, at the Sofitel Phnom Penh. Hundreds of people from the ASEAN countries were in attendance. Ambassadors from the Philippines and Indonesia, ministers, secretaries of state, and other dignitaries were present. For the first time, Timor-Leste was present, having become a member of the ASEAN countries last month, bringing the total to 11 nations.
Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol opened the day, welcoming everyone. He emphasized the importance of collaboration and that Cambodia is open to new investments. The government, he stated, will facilitate foreign investors who wish to start new businesses here. He also highlighted that female entrepreneurs, in particular, are more than welcome in Cambodia. He mentioned in his speech that female entrepreneurs are powerful drivers for breaking into regional markets and going global, stressing the importance of their support for local communities.
Throughout the day, there were guest speakers and panel forums, including Ms. Anna Nesterova, Chairwoman of the Russian Chapter of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance. It was her first time in Cambodia, but certainly not her last. She was positively surprised by what Cambodia has to offer and sees opportunities to expand the network with BRICS countries for Cambodian entrepreneurs. Networking was also an important part of the day, which proved to be a great success.
The Award Ceremony
The evening celebration followed the Pinnacle Entrepreneurs Forum (PEF), a gathering of business leaders, investors, and policymakers.
Everyone was dressed in their finest attire that evening. The Cambodian winners were notably dressed in red. Various artists performed during dinner, including a traditional Apsara dance, and students from the Soundskool Music School showcased their talent on the piano, drums, and vocals.
Finally, the moment arrived. Winners from all participating countries came onto the stage to receive an award. The countries were called forward in alphabetical order, with Cambodia leading the way for 16 other Cambodian women. Lily was first, having secured the highest score. She received the Cambodian Women Entrepreneur Award from H.E. Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi and Lct. Dr. Eng Lykuong. This is a moment to never forget. All the other Cambodian delegates and the winners from the other ASEAN countries were then honored with an Award. It was a grand spectacle and a very successful evening. The handover ceremony also took place, with Laos set to organize the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network next year.
In Conclusion
We are immensely proud that Lily Lim of Cambodian Travel Partner and Cambodiajeep has won this award. She is the first female representative from CATA (Cambodian Association of Travel Agents) to receive this honor. It is a recognition of many years of hard work, and she serves as an inspiration to many female entrepreneurs in the region.