CCC and Sojitz Sign Comprehensive Franchise Agreement with Cambodian Company ULS to Open Six TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE in Cambodia by 2034

2024.05.09 Press Releases
TSUTAYA BOOKS Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. / Urban Living Solutions Co., Ltd.

-First store scheduled to open in the capital, Phnom Penh, in 2025-

TSUTAYA BOOKS Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (Head office: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Chief Executive Officer: Hideyuki Uemoto; hereinafter, "TBM"), a joint venture between Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd. (Head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yasunori Takahashi; hereinafter, "CCC") and Sojitz Corporation (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and COO: Kosuke Uemura; hereinafter, "Sojitz"), has signed a comprehensive franchise agreement with Urban Living Solutions Co., Ltd. (hereinafter, "ULS"), which operates property development and hotel businesses in Cambodia, to open six TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE (hereinafter, "TBS") in Cambodia by 2034.

Following the signing of this agreement, the first Cambodian "TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE" is scheduled to open in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, in 2025. Further details regarding the store opening will be announced at a later date.

Background and thoughts behind expanding into Cambodia

Cambodia has continued to experience stable economic growth with an annual GDP growth rate of approximately 7% even after the Lehman Shock. Although the economy experienced negative growth in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been recovering since 2021, and high economic growth is predicted to continue in the future. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cambodia Basic Data)

Cambodia has experienced such rapid economic growth, with a current population of approximately 17 million (United Nations Population Fund, 2023) and a predicted population of approximately 20.25 million by 2050 (Source: Worldometer - real time world statistics). Cambodia is a country that is expected to continue to achieve significant economic growth in the future, and the country is also pro-Japanese, with the Japanese flag printed on its currency. Taking this into consideration, we have decided to enter into a comprehensive franchise agreement and open a TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE in the country.

By collaborating with ULS through TBM to create a new type of bookstore in Cambodia, Cambodia aims to propose lifestyle ideas that enrich people's lives and contribute to cultural development.

Overview of the comprehensive contract company

CCC's overseas business includes 11 TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE stores in Taiwan, 12 TSUTAYA Bookstores and TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE in mainland China, and 2 TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE and TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE in Malaysia. Going forward, we will work to strengthen our business in the Asia-Pacific region.

Founded in 2016, Urban Living Solutions (ULS) is a Cambodian-owned real estate and lifestyle development company based in Phnom Penh that develops residential, commercial and retail properties, including a luxury hotel under the IHG Vignette Collection brand, scheduled to open in 2027. In addition, ULS operates multiple food and beverage businesses and will be responsible for opening and operating six TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE in Cambodia by 2034.

Comment from Founder and Managing Director Kim "Leang" Kean
"The brand value offered by TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE and ULS's vision of "enriching the lives of people in Cambodia" share the same aspirations. We believe that TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE's beautiful and distinctive space and distinctive product lineup will enable people in Cambodia to connect with each other through books and lifestyle, explore their intellectual curiosity, and provide encounters that will satisfy it. 』

[TSUTAYA BOOKS Malaysia Company Profile]
■Company name: TSUTAYA BOOKS Malaysia Sdn.Bhd
■Location: Level 23, Menara IMC, No8, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
■Chief Executive Officer: Hideyuki Uemoto　
■Corporate website:

Materials related to this matter

CCC and Sojitz Sign Comprehensive Franchise Agreement with Cambodian Company ULS to Open Six TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE in Cambodia by 2034

Inquiries regarding this matter
Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd. Public Relations Office
Mail:  inquiry@ccc.co.jp