Cambodia Showcases Over $1.8 Billion in Business Support at Inaugural Financing Forum

Cambodia’s government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the country’s private sector, using the inaugural National Business Financing Forum 2026 to highlight more than US$1.8 billion in financing, guarantees, grants and business support delivered through state-backed institutions aimed at helping micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The two-day forum, held on July 30-31 at Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel & Residence under the theme “Integrating Government Financing Support for Economic Resilience,” brought together around 600 representatives from government ministries, development partners, financial institutions, business associations and MSMEs. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth presided over the event, which was jointly organised by eight government institutions responsible for financing, entrepreneurship, skills development and business support. The participating agencies included the Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (ARDB), SME Bank of Cambodia, Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia (CGCC), Entrepreneurship Development Fund (EDF), Khmer Enterprise (KE), Digital Economy and Business Committee (DEBC), Skills Development Fund (SDF) and Techo Startup Center (TSC). Government Expands Business Support Ecosystem The forum underscored the Royal Government’s strategy of supporting businesses throughout their entire lifecycle through a combination of affordable financing, loan guarantees, grants, entrepreneurship development, digital transformation and workforce training. Officials said MSMEs remain central to Cambodia’s economy, contributing significantly to employment, income generation and poverty reduction, making access to finance and business support a national priority. Beyond showcasing existing programmes, the event also aimed to improve awareness of available government support, gather feedback from businesses and strengthen coordination among institutions delivering financial and non-financial assistance. State Institutions Report Strong Financing Results Several government-backed institutions outlined the scale of support already provided to Cambodia’s business community. The Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (ARDB) has disbursed approximately US$531 million in loans to MSMEs, agricultural cooperatives and businesses operating across agricultural value chains, with the paddy and rice sector accounting for around 35% of its total lending portfolio. The SME Bank of Cambodia has provided roughly US$647 million in financing to 3,982 enterprises, including US$242 million in direct financing benefiting 880 businesses. Meanwhile, the Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia (CGCC) has guaranteed 9,891 loans valued at approximately US$588.4 million, with MSMEs representing around 92% of all beneficiaries. The Entrepreneurship Development Fund (EDF) allocated approximately US$7 million in grant funding during 2024 and is preparing to launch a US$200,000 equity investment programme in 2026 aimed at supporting high-potential startups and SMEs. Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Continue to Expand Officials also highlighted growing investment in entrepreneurship, innovation and workforce development. Khmer Enterprise has invested approximately US$17 million while mobilising an additional US$33 million from development partners to support nearly 600 entrepreneurship projects across Cambodia. The Skills Development Fund (SDF) has contributed US$25.9 million in co-financing for workforce training programmes, benefiting 605 enterprises. Meanwhile, the Techo Startup Center (TSC) has supported digital adoption initiatives for 62 enterprises and provided funding to 117 startups through accelerator programmes and hackathons, distributing a combined US$356,000. Annual Forum to Strengthen Business Financing Organisers said the forum helped businesses better understand eligibility requirements and available services across participating institutions while improving coordination between government agencies responsible for business financing and enterprise development. Recommendations collected during the event will be used to refine future support mechanisms and strengthen Cambodia’s business ecosystem as the country works to build greater economic resilience. Following what organisers described as a successful inaugural event, the National Business Financing Forum will become an annual platform bringing together government agencies, financial institutions, development partners and the private sector to review progress, identify financing gaps and develop new solutions to support Cambodia’s business community.