Khmer Times News: Cambodia has formally begun drafting its National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) for 2026–2030, marking a strategic shift from basic access to enhancing the quality and resilience of the kingdom’s financial ecosystem.
The launch event, held on Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh, was co-organised by the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). Officials described the initiative as a definitive milestone in modernising the nation’s financial landscape.
In his opening address, NBC Deputy Governor Yim Leat said that the new roadmap reflects a national commitment to ensuring that households and businesses can effectively utilise appropriate financial services.
The 2026–2030 strategy builds on the NFIS 2019–2025, which saw the implementation of 115 priority actions to expand payments, savings, and credit.
By the end of 2025, Cambodia had recorded 18.6 million depositors and 4.3 million credit users, with women constituting the majority in both the banking and microfinance sectors. Central to this success was rapid digitisation driven by the Bakong system, which now supports more than 44 million accounts and has extended essential services to remote rural communities.
Leat emphasised that the next phase must move beyond mere numbers and prioritise consumer protection and long-term financial stability. The new strategy is anchored in five pillars: women’s financial inclusion, digital finance, financial literacy, sustainable finance, and inclusion for persons with disabilities.
The drafting process will involve extensive consultation through technical working groups comprising government officials, private sector leaders, and development partners.
Yasmin Siddiqi, ADB Country Director for Cambodia, described the initiative as a “collective journey,” noting that true inclusion must deliver tangible outcomes that bolster economic growth. As Cambodia navigates this transition, the focus remains on building a financial system that is not only accessible but also robust enough to withstand global economic pressures.
Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com
