The National Bank of Cambodia and Bank of the Lao PDR, the central banks of the two countries, recently launched a payment system based on QR codes. The goal of the program is to “promote the usage of national currency,
Tag: Cambodia
MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Land Titling and Microcredit in Cambodia: Examining the Reality of Hernando de Soto’s ‘Three Steps to Heaven,’” by Milford Bateman
In this paper, Dr Bateman examines the Cambodian microcredit industry and argues against prior claims that increases in land titling lead to access to credit that enables poor landowners to increase their incomes. The results are based on
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: BIO Loans $15m to AMK Microfinance of Cambodia
BIO, a government-owned institution also known as the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries, recently loaned USD 15 million to Cambodia’s Angkor Microheranhvatho Kampuchea (AMK). AMK provides individuals as well as micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises with
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: UN, EU Supporting SMEs Involved in Fisheries in Cambodia via Capfish-Capture Program
Capfish-Capture, a project organized by the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), is giving technical and financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Cambodia’s fishing industry to promote compliance with international food safety standards, allow SMEs to upgrade their machinery, connect SMEs with microfinance and venture capital, and increase academic research into post-harvest food technology. As of 2023, 28
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: AMK of Cambodia Borrowing $7.5m for Green Microfinance via Bond Issue from BII, Symbiotics
Symbiotics Investments, a Switzerland-based investor focused on smaller businesses in low- and middle- income countries, recently disbursed USD 7.5 million to Cambodia’s AMK Microfinance Institution to fund its ongoing lending for electric two- and three-wheeled vehicles as well as new products, such as
MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “The Relationship Between Financial and Social Performances in Microfinance: Insights from the Provision of Agricultural Loans in Cambodia,” by Tristan Caballero-Montes
In the context of agricultural lending in Cambodia, Dr Caballero-Montes assesses the extent to which microfinance institutions (MFIs) are able to pursue both financial and social objectives. The author contends that
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Cambodia Microfinance Association, NBC Launch Project to Increase Financial Literacy, Consumer Protection
The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), the country’s central bank, and the Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA) recently launched a project called Strengthening Safe Finance in Community. The goal is to boost “financial literacy, consumer empowerment, and protection” to “enhance safe and secure use
SPECIAL REPORT: Chamroeun Microfinance Scaling Up to Fund SMEs Supplying Piped Water in Cambodia
Yannick Milev of Cambodia’s Chamroeun Microfinance presented today at European Microfinance Week on the lender’s expansion into providing loans as large as USD 250,000 to private companies that supply piped water to households in Cambodia. In rural parts of the country, the government issues monopolies to private water providers to serve given areas. Approximately 400 companies are licensed to receive these monopolies.
In designing the loan product, Chamroeun employed a technical assistance grant of
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Silatech, Gojo Partner to Provide Digital Finance to Youth-led Enterprises in Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka
The Qatar-based social enterprise Silatech recently launched a three-year partnership with the Japanese microfinance investor Gojo & Company with the aim of supporting 90,000 youth in Cambodia, India and Sri Lanka with digital financial services to facilitate the founding and expansion of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Among the strategies of the partnership is
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Cambodia Microfinance Association, Social Performance Task Force (SPTF), Partner on Consumer Protection
Two NGOs, the Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA) and the US-based Social Performance Task Force (SPTF), recently agreed to create a plan to foster “responsible growth, financial stability and customer protection in Cambodia’s microfinance and broader financial sector.” Elements of the plan include
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Oikocredit, Aqua for All to Invest $17m in Water, Sanitation in Africa, Cambodia
Two Dutch entities, the cooperative investor Oikocredit and the nonprofit Aqua for All, recently launched a two-year partnership to facilitate access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in Cambodia as well as unspecified countries in East and West Africa. Oikocredit has agreed to invest up to EUR 15 million (USD 15.6 million) in
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MicroVest Loans $9m to Acleda Bank via IFC Syndication to Support SMEs in Cambodia, with Focus on Women Entrepreneurs
US-based asset manager MicroVest is lending USD 9 million for five years to Acleda Bank, a publicly traded firm that operates in three countries, to support Acleda’s provision of financial services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Cambodia, particularly those owned by women. The investment is part of a syndication for Acleda by the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) that is to include up to USD 100 million each from IFC and
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: BlueOrchard Executes IIF Equity Buy into Forte Insurance to Boost Agricultural Microinsurance in Cambodia
Switzerland’s BlueOrchard Finance recently disbursed an equity placement of undisclosed size from the InsuResilience Investment Fund (IIF), a Luxembourg-domiciled public-private partnership, for IIF to buy a minority stake in Cambodia’s Forte Insurance Group. BlueOrchard’s investment director for the continent, Thibaud Ponchon, expressed confidence that the placement will “drive the penetration of
MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Beyond Wage Digitization: Financial Capability and Economic Empowerment of Cambodian Women Migrant Workers,” Published by Women’s World Banking (WWB)
This report analyzes the financial awareness, financial behaviors and economic empowerment of 2,800 women – mostly migrants – who work in 13 factories in Cambodia and are paid via digital accounts with Wing Bank. The authors’ initial literature review indicated
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: ESCAP, SHE Investments, UNCDF Build Bookkeeping App Kotra Riel to Assist Women Microentrepreneurs in Cambodia
The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and Cambodia’s SHE (Support Her Enterprise) Investments recently released a bookkeeping app, Kotra Riel,’ targeting
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Good Return, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) to Support Women’s SMEs in Cambodia, Fiji, Nepal, Samoa with Credit Guarantees, Technical Assistance
Good Return, the Australia-based affiliate of the US-based NGO World Education, recently partnered with the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to support women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through a credit guarantee scheme in Cambodia, Fiji, Nepal and Samoa. Under the program, “International impact investors will be providing the funds to be guaranteed to partner financial institutions” in
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation Loans $2.4m to Vision Fund Myanmar, Phare Performing Social Enterprise of Cambodia
The Luxembourg-based Grameen Crédit Agricole (GCA) Foundation recently issued loans of EUR 1.8 million (USD 2.0 million) to VisionFund Myanmar, a member of VisionFund International, and the equivalent of USD 367,000 to
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: First Bond Issue Ever on Cambodian Securities Exchange Is by Microfinance Institution Hattha Kaksekar Limited (HKL) to Benefit Farmers, Other Rural Entrepreneurs
With encouragement from the Cambodian government, microfinance institution Hattha Kaksekar Limited (HKL) recently issued the first corporate bonds ever on the Cambodian Securities Exchange (CSX). The issue raised the USD equivalent of 30 million