On 08 August 2025, Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia (CGCC) and Maybank (Cambodia) collaborated for the 6^th time to hold the SME Building Capacity & Capability (BCC) Programme Workshop of 2025 in Battambang Province. The event brought together rice exporters and rice millers from northwest Cambodia and surrounding provinces, with participation from 30 SME owners and financial advisors, as well as management and staff of the two institutions.

The workshop is presided over by H.E. Oknha Phou Puy, Board Chairman & General Manager of Baitang (Kampuchea) Plc, sharing keynote on valuable perspectives on Cambodia’s rice export potential, and honored participation from Mr. Lun Yeng, Secretary General of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), providing a comprehensive outlook on the rice industry’s current trends and opportunities.

Mr. Rath Sophoan, Country Head of Maybank (Cambodia), also delivered remarks addressing Maybank’s ongoing commitment, which extends beyond providing financial services to include capacity building that supports the development of SMEs, such as rice exporters and millers.

Mr. No Lida, CEO of CGCC, also expressed CGCC’s appreciation to Maybank for initiating and continuing the momentum of the BCC program since 2022, and addressed the support mechanism from the Royal Government of Cambodia through CGCC’s Rice Export Guarantee Scheme for rice exporters and millers’ members of CRF to promote Cambodian rice export.

Through this workshop, the participants gained practical insights into buyer expectations, market readiness, and strategic business partnerships in an evolving trade landscape. This initiative reflects the joint commitment of Maybank (Cambodia) and CGCC to go beyond providing financial access by equipping SMEs with the capabilities, confidence, and connections needed to grow, even amidst today’s increasingly complex global economic conditions.

In the first 7months of 2025, Cambodia has exported 420,572 tons of rice to 65 destinations worldwide, according to the Report of Rice Export by Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF). To support the Royal Government of Cambodia’s aspiration to export 1 million tons of rice per year, CGCC and Participating Financial Institutions (PFI), including Maybank (Cambodia), have been collaborating to implement the Rice Export Guarantee Scheme (REGS). Approximately USD 38 million in loans have been disbursed with CGCC’s guarantees under REGS, as of the end of July 2025, to provide financing support to rice millers and rice exporters. In addition to financing support, Maybank and CGCC have collaborated in co-organizing 5 BCC programs since 2022.