Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 4 March 2025 – The Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC), GGGI, and UNESCAP co-organized a workshop on “Sustainable Finance in Cambodia and Investor Outreach” as part of the Cambodia Sustainable Bond Accelerator (CSBA) Program.

The event, which was designed for over 80 participants from the financial services and potential corporate issuers, were joined by speakers from GGGI, UNESCAP, CGIF, GuarantCo, and leading underwriters, who covered key topics: principles of sustainable finance, issuing and managing sustainable financial instruments, aligning financing with Cambodia’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), attracting investors while ensuring long-term impact, and highlighting sustainable projects to outreach the current and potential investors.

H.E. Sou Socheat, Delegate of the Royal Government in charge as Director General of the SERC, in his opening speech, emphasized the country commitment to sustainable finance. He said, “Sustainable finance is no longer a choice but a necessity for Cambodia’s economic resilience and climate action. With a robust sustainable bond market, we can attract responsible investments that support green growth, social equity, and long-term financial stability. Today’s workshop has an important role in equipping participants with the knowledge and tools needed to drive this transition. This will help Cambodia remain a competitive and sustainable investment destination.”

Recognizing that thematic bonds present a promising solution to bridging Cambodia’s climate financing gap, the workshop aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to engage effectively in sustainable finance. One of the today trainees, Mr. FONG Nee Wai, Chief Financial Officer, Royal Group Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone PLC, aid, “This workshop provided a great perspective into the evolving landscape of sustainable finance and all these topics have helped me deepen my perspective of how Cambodia can leverage sustainable finance to drive impactful change. Also, the discussions I had with industry experts and stakeholders have been essential in identifying practice methods to enhance green investment opportunities in our market.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Shomi Kim, GGGI Cambodia Country Representative, whose organization (GGGI) has been supporting green bonds in Cambodia through the Cambodia Bond Accelerator Program (CSBA), highlighted the important role of sustainable finance in driving both green and inclusive economic growth. She said, “In recent years, Cambodia has made remarkable progress in the transition to sustainable finance, such as the issuance of Cambodia’s largest green bond by the Royal Group PPSEZ in 2024 and development of more than USD 100M green and sustainable bond in the pipeline.”

She continued, “Sustainable financing and green taxonomy are not new concepts, but rather a paradigm shifts towards sustainable investment for Cambodia. By providing relevant stakeholders with the right tools, knowledge, frameworks, and perspective, the sector can mobilize investments that align with national development priorities while addressing environmental and social challenges. GGGI remains committed to building a strong eco-system for sustainable financing that attracts responsible investors and fosters long-term economic prosperity for Cambodia.”

The workshop was concluded with a wrap-up and action plan for participants by, where ESCAP and GGGI provided key takeaways and visualizing next steps as a roadmap to further stimulate sustainable finance initiatives in Cambodia. To strengthen Cambodia’s sustainable finance ecosystem, The Cambodia Bond Accelerator Program was launched in 2022 as the result of collaboration among the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), the Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility (CGIF), and GuarantCo. This effort is a significant milestone in establishing Cambodia as a key player in sustainable finance, boosting investor confidence, and opening up new opportunities to finance climate-resilient growth.