A Change of Guard

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Monday 9 August 2010

"The Kingdom of"/Part Eleven: "ABA Bank"/Fragment II‏


Dear Friends,
Thank you very much for the interest in my book and for the number of letters I had received from you.
Also, please be advised that the full version of my book "The Kingdom of" will be exclusively posted on the site of Cambodia Business Network at: http://www.cambodiabusinessnetwork.com/ Blog of Gregory Shukhman

Read: "The Kingdom of"/ Part Eleven: "ABA Bank"/Fragment I.

Part Eleven: ABA Bank

Fragment II

Dr. Ahn was kind enough to send me an Information Memorandum from the Advanced Bank of Asia Limited. In addition, we discussed and agreed that Bon-Bon World would, for a two-month period, act as an exclusive broker for the seller at a 10% commission rate should the company locate a buyer. This deal was very beneficial from the perspective of the company. The estimated value of the bank was 16 million, based on the study of our financial analyst, which in turn was based on the latest international auditor’s report. Despite this high value, the deal was well within our capability and we were highly appreciative towards Dr. Ahn for giving this opportunity to the company.
At the time of my last visit, we had agreed with Bunnaroeun that any earnings from the company would be reinvested into Cambodian business opportunities. The first investment priority would be a project to renovate six royal palaces, with the express purpose of promoting tourism with respect to His Majesty the King.
We approached this project with great enthusiasm, drawing on all our contacts and available resources in order to implement this project. We did this while at the same time understanding and complying with the necessary confidentiality that was required by the proposal. The main objective of our company was to uphold ethical standards and enable our clients to negotiate directly with each other. Our participation in this process ensured the honesty and high moral standards of all the involved parties.
Based on this, I advocate the importance of a handshake. In other words, I would like to stress the power of a word, over the power of the signed document. Imagine how people could live in harmony like this, living in the light of honor until the end.
Unfortunately, there are only a small number of people who appreciate it, but it’s very important for all of us to remember the three truths and not to sin: Know that the overseer’s eyes and ears see and hear all, and that all of your deeds will be recorded.
We had been effortlessly referred to Dr. Ahn and Chairman Mr. Chang, whom all prospective contacts who were interested in such a deal would be able to obtain more information from the seller.
In the middle of April we had determined the date of arrival for the delegation from Kazakhstan, and the visit was scheduled for May 20, 2007. The main purpose of the visit for the Kazakhs delegation was to seek leverage for possible cooperation between the two countries and to further the development of relations and investment opportunities in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Others were negotiated in on the coordination of the visit to Cambodia, including a group of businessmen from Denmark. The feelings of joy flow through me as more investors from different countries have focused their investments in Cambodia.
By that time, I had received a reputed doctor’s complete evaluation from NYU regarding the President of the Senate’s health condition given to me. I was very pleased that it was satisfactory and that no emergency involvement was needed. The doctors submitted a list of recommendations and preventions, which I’ve sent on to Bunnaroeun, and have also advised the President to have a future visit to New York for a more advanced evaluation, which may be needed in one year.
On Tuesday of April 22, 2007 I was honored to escort Leslie Schwartz, of the Richard Tucker Music Foundation, to a charity dinner event at the Harmony Club via an invitation from Barry Tucker.
The remarkable performance of the leading opera singers at the dinner opening gala concert filled the hall with their divine voices. It combined the souls of the singers and audience, merging the senses.
The aristocracy of New York and guests, along with highly sophisticated audiences have reinforced the golden fund of the opera singers and enriched the aesthetics value of our planet for more than three decades. The opening speech of Cardinal Egan, the Archbishop of New York, followed by Dr. David M. Posner, Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El, made a clear understanding of the importance of the Richard Tucker Music Foundation toward peace and unity of the Universe.
This evening I had the honor of sitting with the respected Rabbi Arthur Schneier, who is internationally known for his leadership on behalf of religious freedom, human rights, and tolerance. Even then, the table was numbered 13, which further enriched my sense of the providential mission in Cambodia. After a short acquaintance and introduction of my involvement in Cambodia (and knowing the popularity of the Rabbi among the World’s Jewish community), I offered the spontaneous (but not unreasonable) idea of building the world’s first Jewish resort in Indochina. The fact is that the day before, I received a project from Bunnaroeun with the possibility of acquiring Tunsay Island, which belonged to Cambodia.
Therefore, by comparing the interests of Vadim Rabinovich in Cambodia, the global authority of Rabbi Schneier, an excellent location in the Gulf of Thailand at the Tunsay Island, as well as a strong democratic movement, the facts presented the reality of implementing this project that was proposed to the distinguished Rabbi.
That same evening I asked the Rabbi to join us for a photograph with Cardinal Egan, and he happily agreed. Photography has indeed become historical, as a year later Pope Benedict XVI included a historic stop at the Park East Synagogue on East 67th Street, where Rabbi Schneier has been the spiritual leader since 1962.
Later in the evening, Mr. Tucker introduced me to a gentleman, as I was informed, who had bought a bank in Cambodia. I asked, “not the ABA Bank?” He answered “yes, the ABA.” During our conversation, it became clear that the bank was sold to him for $25 million. I behaved like an honest man, and treated Barry Tucker like the highly respectful person he is. Relying on the introduction of his very good friend, I decided not to hide the information discovered during our participation in the sale of the ABA bank. The designated price was $20 million. However, the gentleman was not very upset about the news; I was filled with an ethical satisfaction and contentment. In a difficult situation, do not compromise your honesty. For most, it is not that simple in the modern world. We exchanged our business cards, where I read his name; Harry J.F. Bloomfield, Q.C., M.B.A.
The biography provided to the public (see below), which I allowed myself to copy from the website of Mr. Bloomfield, will give you a full description of the social portrait of listing all the merits of this outstanding personality.

K.J.St.J., B.A., LL.B., M.B.A., (born 1944) is a lawyer, business manager, philanthropist, and 5th generation Canadian.

Born in Montreal, Quebec, the son of Bernard Manfred Bloomfield and Neri Judith Loewy, Bloomfield was educated at Selwyn House School and Lower Canada College. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University in 1965, a Bachelor of Civil Law degree from Université de Montréal in 1968, joined the Barreau du Québec in 1969. Bloomfield received a Master of Business Administration from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in 1971. He is married to Nancy Carolyn Tolchinsky and has three sons: Jonathan, Andrew, and James.
He was appointed Queen's Counsel, "One of Her Majesty's Counsel Learned in the Law", in 1991.
From 1980 to 1984, he was the Progressive Conservative Riding Association President for Mount Royal. He was the defeated candidate in that constituency in the 1980 election who ran against Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the longstanding 15th Prime Minister of Canada.
In 1992, he was awarded rank of Knight of Grace in the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem and was elevated to Knight of Justice in 1993.
From March 1981 to March 1987 he served as a Member of the Commission des Valeurs Mobilieres du Québec, also then called the Quebec Securities Commission. In 1987 he was named to the Board of Directors of the Federal Business Development Bank, now called the BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada) and served there for 11 years, 7 of which as Chairman of the Audit Committee.
In 1994, in partnership with Bank Julius Baer of Zurich, Switzerland, he formed and was the first Chairman of BJB Global Investments, Ltd., a Canadian wealth-management advisory firm with headquarters in Montreal.
In 1998, he became the President of the Canadian Branch of the International Law Association, leading a Canadian delegation to the London Conference (2000) and the New Delhi Conference (2002), and later spearheaded an invitation for the world 2006 Conference that was successfully held in Toronto, Canada. As an Honorary Life President of the Canadian Branch he is an Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Branch.
Bloomfield has served on numerous boards, public and private, including Heller Financial Canada (now part of GE Capital); Banco Comercial Português, the Canadian subsidiary of Sottomayor Bank of Portugal; British Controlled Oilfields, Genoil Inc., and Balkan Resources Inc. He is President of the Eldee Foundation, a Canadian registered charitable foundation, Chairman of the Humane Society of Canada, and a member of the Financial Advisory Committee of the Jewish Community Foundation, and a Boardmember of the Jewish National Fund of Canada. During 2007 and 2008 he was a member of the Campaign Cabinet which successfully raised funds to renovate and expand the Coady International Institute at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Since December 2008 he was appointed to the Board of Directors of Wi2Wi Inc., a leader in developing multiple-radio and integrated wireless solutions. December 2009 he joined the Board of Directors of Silent Communication Inc., or SilentCom, an Israeli-based company which provides a new face for mobile value added services. It offers mobile operators a new category of call management, messaging and visual voicemail solutions for mobile devices.
In November 2007, he was awarded the Gold Medal for meritorious philanthropic work, and international social bridge-building, by the Jordanian National Red Crescent Society, Dr. Mohammed Al-Hadid, President and Chairman of the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. It is the highest award that they offer. He is a Member of the International Board of Governors of the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology.
In 2008, subsequent to his co-founding of Balkan Resources Incorporated, a Canadian company exploring and developing nickel and copper mines in Albania, Bloomfield was chosen by the Government of Albania to act as their Honorary Consul General in Montreal with jurisdiction in Quebec and the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Bloomfield has previously acted as the Honorary Consul General of Liberia (1986 to 2005) and the Honorary Consul General of Belize (1987 to 2004), as well as serving as the Alt. Representative of Antigua and Barbuda at the International Civil Aviation Organization (the ICAO), a United Nations agency which is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
In March of 2010 Bloomfield served as a founding Director, along with Albanian Ambassador to Canada Besnik Konci, Abby Badwi CEO/President of Bankers Petroleum and Toronto Businessman Nessim Gashi, of the Canada-Albania Business Council. He was elected the first President of the Council. The objects of the Corporation are to be the country’s Canada-Albania bilateral trade and investment facilitator, to act as a catalyst and to advocate the development of business, commercial and cultural ties between the two countries. The Canada-Albania Business Council (“CABC”) will provide administrative services and as well will draw on the experience and business relationships of its members to further these ends. The CABC is dedicated to building its members’ business success in Albania and Canada by offering business service and support. From direct operational support in Albania to trade and investment advocacy on its members’ behalf, the CABC’s role is to be a vital resource in enhancing Canada-Albania bilateral trade and investment and in building prosperity for Canadians through enhanced Albanian-Canadian business.
Bloomfield, as Managing partner of the law firm of Bloomfield & Avocats, holds the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory peer-ranked rating of AV, the "A" representing the very highest category of legal ability; and the "V" the very highest rating given for general ethical standards.


Part Twelve: Harry J.F. Bloomfield

To be continued:

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