State-owned Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia Plc (CGCC) has issued credit guarantees totaling $45.5 million to 448 businesses, as of May 31.

Out of the 448 businesses, 431 are small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and 17 are large, while 138 are owned by women.

CGCC was established by Sub-Decree No 140/ANKR/BK on September 1, 2020, to support businesses, especially SMEs to enable formal loans by guaranteeing lenders that principal and interest payments will be made.

Through its ongoing schemes, CGCC provides credit guarantees on loans disbursed by participating financial institutions (PFI), which include both banks and microfinance institutions (MFI).

In turn, CGCC requests that applicants fully understand PFI’s requirements and make the necessary preparations before taking out loans with credit guarantees.

“Bridging the gap between credit supply and funding demand supports economic growth and CGCC’s missions of providing credit guarantees to businesses and sharing the risk with crediting institutions, and increasing financial inclusiveness,” said CGCC deputy CEO No Lida.

Meanwhile, Hong Vanak, an economic researcher at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, told The Post on June 5 that the provision and receipt of a loan with legal guarantees have played an important role in stabilizing the economy.

The credit guarantee agency also ensured that the process went smoothly, particularly during pandemics.

Vanak said when the financial sector stabilizes, investment and job creation will also increase.

In addition, SMEs with sufficient capital lead to better production processes, resulting in lower imports of goods and increased exports.

“Providing credit guarantees helps lending institutions and lenders [business owners] build confidence in each other,” Vanak said.

He added that prior to guarantees, CGCC requires conditions to be met while it studies the type of business or business. “They [always] ask for clarity first.”

In September, CGCC launched the Co-Financing Guarantee Scheme (CFGS), which is specifically designed for co-financing loans disbursed under the SMEs Co-Financing Scheme Phase II (SCFS II), of Small and Medium Enterprise Bank of Cambodia Plc (SME Bank).

The CFGS is the second credit guarantee scheme offered by the CGCC. The enterprise launched the $200 million Business Recovery Guarantee Scheme (BRGS) in March 2021 in a bid to spur economic recovery during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The CFGS provides a way for CGCC’s PFIs to offer unsecured loans or those that don’t require any form of collateral, to SMEs.

Article credit to Phnom Penh Post, 5 June 2022 

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