In order to preserve the rare resources of the palm trees and to participate in the development of the economy of Cambodia, Dr Hay with the group of Khmer technicians, and RITT-IDF created the Confirel society.

Some of these students have undertaken an internship in France, thanks to (International Cooperation center for Agronomic Research and Development) sponsorship. They are currently conducting research on ways to better use modern technologies to transform local fruits and juices into tasteful and hygienic products that can be preserved over the long term.

The idea to use palm sugar emerged from a simple observation that a mythical tree was increasingly being depreciated: the Borassus Flabellifer, the sugar palm tree, or “Thnôt” in Khmer language. Confirel exclusively uses sugar obtained from the Thnôt’s sap.

Thnôt is a typical element of the Cambodian plains. It is, so to say, the national tree of the Kingdom of Cambodia. On the road that goes from Saigon to Phnom Penh, the appearance of its high and straight trunk indicates that the traveller is entering Khmer land. It is even represented on various Cambodian banknotes.