Economy and commerce
Banking and financial services
Loan offtake slows, NPLs go up
Growth in the offtake of loans from financial institutions is forecast to be in single digits this year in Cambodia, compared to the 17 percent growth in 2022, according to the Cambodian Financial Sector Report 2023 by Mekong Strategic Capital. ...
Manoj Mathew
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501350471/loan-offtake-slows-npls-go-up/
Financial sector recorded strong balance sheet growth last year
Despite challenging global conditions, Cambodia’s finance sector delivered a reasonable performance in 2022 with a strong balance sheet growth, offset by higher expenses and credit costs. ...
May Kunmakara
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/financial-sector-recorded-strong-balance-sheet-growth-last-year
Vietnam actively joins cross-border payment connectivity effort
Cambodian media has reported on August 25 that the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in regional payment connectivity with the central banks of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501349303/vietnam-actively-joins-cross-border-payment-connectivity-effort/
IMF, ECB, global banks laud Chea Serey as NBC chief
A multitude of international financial institutions and central banks have congratulated and expressed confidence over Chea Serey’s appointment as governor of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), acknowledging her expertise and qualification to develop the Kingdom’s banking sector. ...
May Kunmakara
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/imf-ecb-global-banks-laud-chea-serey-nbc-chief
Acleda Bank to expand KHQR beyond ASEAN
Acleda Bank Plc plans to expand the KHQR system to non-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries, said a senior bank official. ...
Kang Sothear
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501347404/acleda-bank-to-expand-khqr-beyond-asean/
Cambodia, Laos launch KHQR-LAOQR cross-border payments
The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL) on Friday launched the cross-border payment via QR Code in Laos in the first phase, said a statement. ...
Kang Sothear
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501345965/cambodia-laos-launch-khqr-laoqr-cross-border-payments/
Probe launched into ‘debt-related suicides’
The Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC) and the Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA) are working together with members over the allegation on suicides and attempted suicides due to over-aggressive handling by loan officers in Ratanakkiri recently. ...
May Kunmakara
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/probe-launched-debt-related-suicides
OJK, Cambodia’s FSA enhance collaboration in financial supervision responsibilities
The Indonesian Financial Services Authority, commonly known as OJK, has joined forces with its Cambodian counterpart to bolster the supervision of non-bank financial institutions and contribute to the stability of the global financial system. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501339466/ojk-cambodias-fsa-enhance-collaboration-in-financial-supervision-responsibilities/
Debt growth vigilance crucial: Expert
The Cambodian banking industry is facing increasing systemic risks due to the looming economic uncertainty and rising non-performing loans (NPLs). ...
May Kunmakara
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/debt-growth-vigilance-crucial-expert
KB Kookmin Bank launches integrated bank in Cambodia
South Korea’s KB Kookmin Bank on Sunday said it received final approval on Friday from Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce to launch the integrated commercial bank KB Prasac Bank. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501338603/kb-kookmin-bank-launches-integrated-bank-in-cambodia/
KHQR records 400K transactions in one year
In one year since its official rollout in 2022 by the National Bank of Cambodia, KHQR, the universal quick response (QR) platform of the country for digital payments, has recorded nearly 400,000 transactions. ...
Manoj Mathew
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501336016/khqr-records-400k-transactions-in-one-year/
IFC watchdog’s investigation into Cambodia’s top microfinance firms allowed to proceed
The International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) watchdog announced Tuesday it will proceed with an investigation into Cambodia’s leading microfinance firms, after the IFC withdrew a request for review of the decision to investigate. ...
Cambodia sees significant increase in digital payments with e -wallets exceeding 20.2 million
Cambodia has recorded a sharp rise in mobile payments as more and more people have turned from cash-based to digital transaction options, the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) said. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501336216/cambodia-sees-significant-increase-in-digital-payments-with-e-wallets-exceeding-20-2-million/
Cambodia’s riel now on Singapore’s foreign exchange
Cambodian people and foreigners who are in need of riel banknotes before arrival in the Kingdom can now be able to change foreign currencies for Cambodia’s national currency at the Travelex money exchange counters in Singapore’s major international airport commonly known as Changi Airport, said ...
Kang Sothear
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501334438/cambodias-riel-now-on-singapores-foreign-exchange/
Cambodia’s central bank says foreign reserves increased to $18.4 billion as of June
Cambodia’s international reserves had risen to $18.4 billion as of June 2023, up 3.2 percent from $17.82 billion at the end of 2022, said a report of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) on Monday. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501334799/cambodias-central-bank-says-foreign-reserves-increased-to-18-4-billion-as-of-june/
Cambodia issues Government Bond of $27 million in H1
The government has raised funds through government bond issuance with a total of $27 million in the first six months of this year, accounting for 13.5 percent of the $200 million target. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501334815/cambodia-issues-government-bond-of-27-million-in-h1/
Cambodia’s banking, financial industry stays healthy in H1, with outstanding loans rising to $58.6 billion
FacebookTwitterEmailShareCambodia’s banking and financial industry continued to enjoy healthy growth in both loans and deposits in the first half of 2023, said the biannual report of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) released on Monday. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501334791/cambodias-banking-financial-industry-stays-healthy-in-h1-with-outstanding-loans-rising-to-58-6-billion/
NBC: ‘Robust’ lenders to remain key growth drivers
The banking system has demonstrated its robustness through high levels of liquidity and capital, and will remain sound and resilient while playing a crucial role in supporting economic activities, despite recent global turbulence, according to the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC). ...
May Kunmakara
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/nbc-robust-lenders-remain-key-growth-drivers
Central bank poised to auction off 90B riel on July 25
The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) is set to hold its 134th liquidity-provided collateralised operation (LPCO) on July 25, making 90 billion riel ($22 million) available to local financial institutions in need of liquidity, through an auction to buy US dollars. ...
May Kunmakara
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/central-bank-poised-auction-90b-riel-july-25
Chinese yuan not to be legalized in Cambodia, NBC confirms
The agreement between the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and UnionPay International is not to legalize the Chinese currency in the nation but rather to raise the prestige of the Khmer riel through cross-border QR payments, NBC’s deputy governor-general confirmed after concerns were raised over ...
Mao Sreypich
https://kiripost.com/stories/nbc-chea-serey-chinese-yuan-not-to-be-legalized-in-cambodia
Consumers’ complaint mechanism soon, NBC says
The National Bank of Cambodia has prepared a draft proclamation on standardised or common consumers’ complaint response mechanism for all banking, payment and financial institutions in the country to comply with NBC’s guidelines after consumers have expressed dissatisfaction over the existing mechanisms, said a senior ...
Kang Sothear
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501325554/consumers-complaint-mechanism-soon-nbc-says/
NBC navigating China’s cross-border interbank payment system: Serey
Cambodia’s journey towards becoming a member of the Chinese central bank’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) will require more time due to the “stringent conditions” put forth by the central bank, according to National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) deputy governor Chea Serey. ...
Van Socheata
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/nbc-navigating-chinas-cross-border-interbank-payment-system-serey
Cross-border QR payments between China and Cambodia launch
The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and UnionPay International (UPI) signed a deal on Monday to promote cross-border payment with China and improve the use of the Khmer riel. ...
Yatt Malai
https://kiripost.com/stories/cross-border-qr-payments-between-china-and-cambodia-launch
CBC’s CEO talks digitalization, alternative data and financial health checks
Cambodia cemented itself as a regional leader in the finance sector when the nation signed a deal with Singapore in March to exchange consumer credit information. This marked the region’s first cross-border initiative between two countries’ credit bureaus. ...
Marissa Carruthers
https://kiripost.com/stories/cambodia-cbcs-ceo-talks-digitalization-alternative-data-and-financial-health-checks