On 29 September 2023, Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia (CGCC) and the Branch of Kasikornbank Public Company Limited (Phnom Penh) signed the Credit Guarantee Agreement. The Signing Ceremony was held at CGCC’s office with the honorable presence of H.E. Ros Seileva, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and Chairman of CGCC, H.E. Cherdkiat Atthakor, Ambassador of Thailand to Cambodia, and Mr. Suwat Techawatanawana, Executive Vice President of Kasikornbank Thailand.

Mr. Wong Keet Loong, Chief Executive Officer of CGCC, said: “We are very honored to have this partnership with a leading bank of Thailand to offer credit guarantees to support their MSME financing in Cambodia. The bank branch here can tap on their experience in Thailand, where the banking sector is very experienced in providing guaranteed loans. With this experience, we hope the bank will extend guaranteed financing to benefit Cambodian-owned businesses.

This collaboration also opens up opportunities for us to explore cross-border guarantees between businesses in Thailand and Cambodia. We have plans to understudy and collaborate with the Thai Credit Guarantee Corp, which has more than 30 years of experience, towards the end of this year.”

Mr. Ritthiwut Watthanachai, General Manager of the Branch of Kasikornbank (Phnom Penh), said: “Cambodia is at the center of Kasikornbank’s regional expansion strategy. This initiative seamlessly aligns with our business plan for the next phase, which we aim to leverage our experience in supporting small and medium-sized businesses in Thailand and replicate a similar model to serve local Cambodian SMEs. The partnership with CGCC will be the key enabler for us in extending our reach to a broader entrepreneur base, while improving our service capabilities. As the first Thai bank who joins the credit guarantee scheme, this partnership underlines Kasikornbank’s aspiration and commitment in supporting the Government’s vision for SME development.”

CGCC aims to improve financial inclusion and develop MSMEs with the main mission of providing guarantees for loans through Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) to MSMEs. Meanwhile, the Branch of Kasikorn Bank (Phnom Penh) is a foreign bank branch of Kasikornbank Public Company Limited, known as KBank, one of Thailand’s leading financial institutions. The branch provides a wide range of financial services and solutions to individuals and businesses.

With a strong presence in Cambodia, the Branch of Kasikornbank (Phnom Penh) has now become one of the 27 Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) of CGCC, committing to assisting business entities in line with the Government’s direction to support MSMEs. CGCC and Kasikornbank are confident that this partnership will help to address the financing gap faced by many MSMEs in Cambodia and contribute to the growth and development of the country’s economy.

About CGCC

CGCC is the only credit guarantee corporation in Cambodia, established by the decision of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, as a state-owned enterprise under the technical and financial guidance of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The primary mission of CGCC is to provide credit guarantees to improve financial inclusion and support the growth of SMEs in Cambodia.

About Branch of Kasikornbank Public Company Limited (Phnom Penh)

The Branch of Kasikornbank Public Company Limited (Phnom Penh) was granted the commercial banking license by National Bank of Cambodia in November 2016. The initial registered capital was MUSD 50, which has been increased to MUSD 80 as of 2023. As an integral of Kasikornbank, the branch aims to provide best in class financial products and services to both local and foreign business in Cambodia. Given Kasikornbank’s presences in China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Lao PDR, and Thailand, the branch also focuses on connecting customers from across the region.