Cambodia's Informal Economy Registrations Approach 500,000

The registration of participants in Cambodia's informal economy and micro-enterprises continues to grow steadily, with a total of 496,805 applications received as of August 28, 2026, nearing 500,000 individuals. Minister of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Hem Vanndy, stated at the Salon Business Forum that among those who submitted registration requests, self-employed individuals accounted for over 480,000, employees numbered 7,445, and micro-enterprises totaled 3,235. The Minister emphasized that despite the increase in registrations, a significant portion of citizens and informal economy business operators are still unaware of or do not fully understand the benefits of registering. Therefore, continued public outreach and increased awareness are crucial for broader participation of informal economy actors within the formal system. According to Minister Hem Vanndy's explanation, the eligibility criteria for informal economy registration are for individuals earning less than $62,500 USD annually, or approximately $5,000 USD per month. Eligible registrants include self-employed individuals, small businesses, micro-enterprises, employees, and general informal economy workers such as street vendors. For registration, citizens can either apply independently via the Cam-IE mobile application or visit one of the nine partner banks to receive free assistance. These partner banks include Wing, ACLEDA, ABA, Vattanac, SME Bank, ARDB, FTB, Canadia Bank, and Phnom Penh Commercial Bank. The Minister affirmed that after registration, businesses will receive official recognition within the government's framework and a certificate of business status from state institutions, thereby enhancing credibility with partners and financial institutions.