Khmer Times News: Cambodia has been ranked first in the ASEAN region for financial services in the World Bank’s Business Ready (B-READY) 2025 Survey, marking a significant milestone for the Kingdom’s rapidly developing financial sector and digital economy.

Released last week, awarded Cambodia a score of 84.45 out of 100 in the financial ​​​​​​​​​​​services category, placing it ahead of regional peers including Vietnam (80.32), Singapore (78.74), Malaysia (73.74), the Philippines (73.22), Laos (71.35), Indonesia (70.05), and Timor-Leste (29.65). Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar were not included in the assessment.

The B-READY 2025 Survey on Financial Services evaluates how effectively countries support access to finance by examining regulations, credit infrastructure and the operational efficiency of financial services.

Key areas assessed include commercial lending, customer due diligence (CDD) for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the adoption of digital verification methods such as electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC).

According to the World Bank, Cambodia stood out for the quality of its regulatory framework governing financial institutions and lending, as well as for its strong credit infrastructure.

The country was recognised for providing a remarkably fast and efficient process for registering and managing security interests, or collateral, a crucial requirement for businesses seeking secured loans.

The survey also highlighted Cambodia’s timely and efficient updates to credit data, which ensure lenders have access to current and reliable information.

Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com