Phnom penh: The Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC), with support from the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and the ASEAN Bankers Association (ABA), hosted its 4th Cambodia Banking Conference on Aug. 19-20, 2025, at Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel. The event was themed 'Unlocking Inclusive Growth: Digital Innovation and Sustainability.'
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the conference was presided over by notable figures including H.E. Kith Sovannarith, NBC Director General of Banking Supervision, Mr. Paul Gwee Choon Guan, ABA Secretary General, Mr. Rath Sophoan, ABC Chairman, Mr. Raymond Sia, ABC Vice Chairman, and Mr. Sharad Jain, Country Manager of Mastercard for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. This year's conference brought together more than 800 leaders, with 500 attending in person and 300 participating online.
Participants included representatives from ASEAN Member States, telecommunications operators, financial institutions, government agencies, and policymakers. Experts from the government, financial institutions, World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Labour Organisation (ILO), and Women's World Banking shared their insights on key trends shaping the future of the banking sector.
NBC's Director General of Banking Supervision, H.E. Kith Sovannarith, emphasized the need for active collaboration across government, private sector, civil societies, and international partners to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth. He highlighted the Pentagonal Strategy as a national roadmap, NBC's role in providing industry roadmaps and supportive regulations, and the importance of partnerships with the private sector in driving lasting changes.
ABC Chairman, Mr. Rath Sophoan, addressed the complexities and evolving nature of the financial system, mentioning financial technology (Fintech), digital currencies, decentralised finance, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) banking. He underscored how Cambodia's banking industry can leverage technology and sustainable finance to foster inclusive economic growth.
In his keynote address, Mr. Paul Gwee Choon Guan, Secretary General of the ASEAN Bankers Association (ABA), spoke about ASEAN's period of rapid transformation. He noted that technology is reshaping customer service, sustainability is redefining progress measurement, and inclusion is ensuring growth benefits everyone. He reiterated ABA's commitment to promoting cross-border collaborations and developing innovative solutions to address local and regional challenges.
The two-day conference aligned with National Financial Inclusion Strategies (NFIS) 2019/25, the digital economy, and sustainable growth. It served as a collaborative platform for policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators to discuss key topics and establish connections in the financial sector.
As highlighted by H.E. Kith Sovannarith, there is a need to expand digital infrastructure, financial literacy, and consumer protection to ensure equitable access to finance for all Cambodians. Additionally, mobilising green finance to accelerate sustainable development and building trust and transparency in financial services are crucial to ensuring safe, responsible, and inclusive innovation.