Economy and commerce

Banking and financial services

Banks to expand amid sound macroeconomy

Some of Cambodia’s largest banks and financial institutions have announced plans to expand their businesses following solid macroeconomic performance so far this year. The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) in July projected that the Kingdom’s economy is poised to have grown 7.1 per cent this year. ...

May Kunmakara
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/banks-expand-amid-sound-macroeconomy

Kingdom set to host Asean banking meet

Cambodia will host the 22nd Asean Banking Conference and the 49th Asean Banking Council Meeting, Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC) president In Channy said on Thursday. Channy told The Post that the event will be organised by the ABC and will be held from ...

Thou Vireak
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/kingdom-set-host-asean-banking-meet

Report: 28.1% of Cambodians take out loans for healthcare

A new report has found that 28.1 per cent of Cambodians borrow money to pay for healthcare, with microfinance insiders claiming it does not reflect the reality in the financial sector. The University of New South Wales (UNSW) surveyed 5,000 households across Cambodia and found ...

Thou Vireak
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/report-281-cambodians-take-out-loans-healthcare

The macro challenges in Cambodia’s microfinance sector

In August, two local Cambodian organizations, Licadho and Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT) published Collateral Damage: Land Loss and Abuses in Cambodia’s Microfinance Sector, a report about the dangerous growth of the country’s microfinance sector. It spotlighted an issue that researchers have been warning about for years. A report ...

David Hutt
https://thediplomat.com/2019/10/the-macro-challenges-in-cambodias-microfinance-sector/

State Bank of Vietnam strengthens relations with Cambodian partner

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) and the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) held a bilateral meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on September 16 to exchange and share experiences on macroeconomic management, especially in finance and banking. ...

Nhan Dan Newspaper
https://en.nhandan.org.vn/business/item/7922402-state-bank-of-vietnam-strengthens-relations-with-cambodian-partner.html

NGOs slammed over retraction refusal

The government yesterday slammed rights group Licadho and Sahmakum Teang Tnaut for refusing to attend a scheduled meeting and make a public statement retracting a critical report on the negative impacts of microloans. Last week, the two NGOs defended their research during a meeting with the ...

Ben Sokhean
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50642142/ngos-slammed-over-retraction-refusal/

NGOs ordered to retract MFI report

The government yesterday ordered two NGOs to retract a critical report on the negative impacts of microloans after summoning their representatives for a meeting to defend their research. The report, published last month by Licadho and Sahmakum Teang Tnaut, featured seven case studies of abuse chosen ...

Khuon Narim
http://Khuon Narim

NGOs invited to discuss MFI report

Officials of NGOs Licadho and Sahmakum Teang Tnaut will attend a closed-door meeting at the Council of Ministers on Wednesday to explain the findings of their recent report claiming that increasing levels of debt at microfinance institutions (MFIs) has resulted in human rights violations. ...

Khorn Savi
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ngos-invited-discuss-mfi-report

Cambodia’s total mortgages near $3.5B

Mortgage loans in Cambodia continue to surge this year, according to Credit Bureau Cambodia (CBC). The credit body’s consumer report showed that outstanding mortgages hit $3.42 billion at the end of June. CBC’s data showed that loans have increased by 30 percent from the same ...

Hor Kimsay
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50635423/cambodias-total-mortgages-near-3-5b/

National Bank of Cambodia slams NGOs’ lending report

The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) on Thursday slammed a report on predatory lending in the Kingdom by local human rights NGOs Licadho and Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT), which was released on Wednesday, as “flawed”. The report, entitled Collateral Damage, claimed that increasing levels of ...

Thou Vireak
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/national-bank-cambodia-slams-ngos-lending-report

Report: MFI loans force land sales, increase in child labour

A report from local human rights NGOs Licadho and Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT) claimed that the increasing levels of debt caused by taking loans from microfinance institutions (MFIs) is forcing rural families to sell off land. The study also claimed that the sharp rise in debt ...

Thou Vireak
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/report-mfi-loans-force-land-sales-increase-child-labour

Bank loan portfolios set to be at least 10% in local currency

Cambodian commercial banks are showing a stronger preference to provide riel loans to microfinance institutions (MFI) as they rush to increase the share of local currency in their loan portfolio to at least 10 per cent by the end of next year. ...

Hor Kimsay
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/bank-loan-portfolios-set-be-least-10-local-currency

Fresh round of MFI license cancellations by NBC

The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) has rejected two license applications and revoked the licenses of 24 microfinance institutions operating outside the capital, according to an announcement released Wednesday. ...

Sum Manet
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50531273/fresh-round-of-mfi-license-cancellations-by-nbc/

Firms back loan relief measures for victims

Representatives from the Kingdom’s microfinance sector on Sunday said the industry was keeping a close watch on those impacted by the Mekong River flooding, and that they were willing to take measures to reduce the financial burden on the victims. ...

Hor Kimsay
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/firms-back-loan-relief-measures-victims

Students to learn financial literacy

Cambodian students from grade 1 to 12 will begin studying basic financial skills starting in the 2019 academic year as the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) is now finalising the curriculum. NBC director-general Chea Serey said Thursday that the new curriculum would help boost the ...

Hor Kimsay
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/students-learn-financial-literacy

National Bank of Cambodia warns of dodgy lenders

The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) announced on Friday that it is seeking to cooperate with relevant stakeholders to crack down on illegal lenders. It also alerted the public about the dangers of taking cash loans from unfamiliar sources. ...

Hor Kimsay
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/national-bank-cambodia-warns-dodgy-lenders

Visa transactions up 30 percent

Visa Inc, the world’s leader in digital payments, experienced strong growth in Cambodia in 2017 with the number of Visa cards in the country increasing by 65 percent compared to the previous year. ...

Sum Manet
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50504799/visa-transactions-up-30-percent/

NBC revokes licenses of 11 rural credit institutions

The National Bank of Cambodia on Wednesday announced it is revoking the licenses of 11 rural credit institutions and rejecting license applications from 12 other credit organisations.​ ...

May Kunmakara
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50503744/nbc-revokes-licenses-of-11-rural-credit-institutions/

NBC warns against unlicensed deposit schemes

The National Bank of Cambodia issued a letter on Wednesday clarifying that only seven microfinance institutions (MFIs) are licensed to accept deposits from the public. The notification came after the central bank noticed several “rural credit operators” – institutions smaller than a typical MFI that ...

Hor Kimsay
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/nbc-warns-against-unlicensed-deposit-schemes

NBC promotes riel liquidity

Commercial banks and microfinance institutions have acquired more than 209 billion riel in riel liquidity, worth $52.4 million, from the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) since the central bank began its liquidity-providing collateralised operation (LPCO) in October 2016. ...

Sok Chan
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50116187/nbc-promotes-riel-liquidity/

Japan firm eyes stake in local MFI Chamroeun

Cambodian microfinance institution (MFI) Chamroeun Microfinance Plc is negotiating with Japanese firm Renet Japan Group to sell a 90 percent stake in the MFI to the Japanese used goods dealer, according to Nikkei Asian Review. ...

Post Staff
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/japan-firm-eyes-stake-local-mfi-chamroeun

CBC says growth of credit charging ahead

Credit Bureau Cambodia (CBC) yesterday released its report for the fourth quarter of 2017, which showed significant growth in applications for credit, particularly in the credit card and mortgage sectors. ...

Brendan O’Byrne
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/cbc-says-growth-credit-charging-ahead

New warning against digital coins issued

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Cambodia (SECC) yesterday warned the public against investing in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, arguing that there is no regulation in place to manage the use of digital coins. ...

May Kunmakara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50102471/new-warning-against-digital-coins-issued/

Delinquent loan rate continues to rise

The rate of microfinance loans with overdue payments nearly doubled last year according to the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), though it remained within a normal range and was coupled with a rise in deposits. ...

Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/delinquent-loan-rate-continues-rise

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