CGCC

Wing Bank, CGCC, and FASMEC to Offer Guaranteed Loans and Market Accessibility to SMEs

Wing Bank (Cambodia) Plc, Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia (CGCC), and Federation of Association for Small and Medium Enterprises of Cambodia (FASMEC) have forged an impactful strategic partnership—a visionary move aimed at boosting the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Cambodia.

Wing Bank, CGCC, and FASMEC to Offer Guaranteed Loans and Market Accessibility to SMEs
Wing Bank, CGCC, and FASMEC to Offer Guaranteed Loans and Market Accessibility to SMEs

The collaboration is a strategic effort to address collateral challenges faced by SMEs when applying for bank loans and enhance financial literacy among the SMEs, exclusively for FASMEC members across the Kingdom. This will be achieved by providing financial solutions by Wing Bank on a collateral-free basis and secured with credit guarantees from the state-owned CGCC.

CEO of CGCC, Wong Keet Loong, said, “We are excited to partner with Wing Bank and FASMEC to support FASMEC’s SME members in increasing their access to loans through potential guarantees.”

Wing Bank, CGCC, and FASMEC to Offer Guaranteed Loans and Market Accessibility to SMEs
Wing Bank, CGCC, and FASMEC to Offer Guaranteed Loans and Market Accessibility to SMEs

“This partnership will provide valuable resources for FASMEC, enabling their members to grow and succeed by accessing financing and improving financial literacy, aligning with our goals at CGCC,” Wong highlighted.

CGCC, the first state-owned credit guarantee institution operating under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, aims to bolster local businesses by offering timely credit support. As of July 2023, CGCC has successfully granted credit guarantees amounting to $139.5 million, benefiting 1,648 enterprises. Nearly 92 per cent of these are micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). In comparison, the remaining 8 per cent are larger businesses.

“Through our innovative financial solutions and partnership with CGCC and FASMEC, we are committed to empowering SMEs with greater access to finance,” said Han Peng Kwang, CEO of Wing Bank. “By providing flexible banking services and credit support, we are enabling SMEs to seize growth opportunities, drive innovation, and contribute to the overall prosperity of Cambodia.”

SMEs who are members of FASMEC can access not only finance guaranteed by CGCC through Wing Bank but also enjoy broader opportunities to connect with potential customers, vendors, and suppliers. This is made possible through Wing’s ecosystem.

Wing Bank provides convenient retail solutions through its WingPay platform, supporting transactions within the Wing ecosystem’s B2B and B2C platforms, including Wingmarket, WingAgri, and Wingmall.

Wingmarket acts as a supply chain solution, streamlining supply chain management for SMEs and corporate businesses. WingAgri serves as a reliable agriculture e-commerce platform, connecting farmers with buyers through a virtual marketplace. Wingmall, a trusted B2C platform, is widely used by numerous restaurants in Cambodia, ensuring seamless transactions and enhancing the customer experience.

The strategic partnership between CGCC, FASMEC, and Wing Bank is poised to foster a supportive environment for financial accessibility, effectively addressing the hurdles SMEs encounter in securing loans, and expanding their market accessibility.

“We are delighted to partner with Wing Bank and CGCC, as it presents a remarkable opportunity for FASMEC members SMEs who face challenges in accessing finance due to a lack of collateral,” said Okhna Te Taing Por, President of FASMEC. “This partnership will enable them to expand their businesses and achieve substantial growth.”

According to local media reports, the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation registered 43,974 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) last year. These registered SMEs provided 444,504 jobs for Cambodian individuals. SMEs comprise about 90 per cent of all enterprises, contributing to 58 per cent of the GDP and employing over 70 per cent of the workforce.

FASMEC Members can conveniently visit any Wing Bank branches to apply for a loan, where dedicated staff are ready to assist them with all their financial needs. The members can also approach Wing Bank staff during the training sessions organized by FASMEC throughout the country.

Credit to: Khmer Times, Published on 23 August 2023

 

CGCC Participated in the 31st Asian Credit Supplementation Institution Confederation (ACSIC) Training Program

Mr. No Lida, Deputy CEO of CGCC, led CGCC’s delegation  to attend the 31st ACSIC Training Program in Jakarta, Indonesia, hosted by the Indonesia Guarantee Corporation Association (ASIPPINDO), and presented about Cambodia’s Credit Guarantee Schemes under the  theme  “Building a Resilient Future: Enabling Sustainable Credit Supplementation.”

CGCC Participated in the 31st Asian Credit Supplementation Institution Confederation (ACSIC) Training Program
CGCC Participated in the 31st Asian Credit Supplementation Institution Confederation (ACSIC) Training Program

This training program was participated by approximately 60 delegates representing members/observers of ACSIC from 12 countries in Asia including Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand.

CGCC Participated in the 31st Asian Credit Supplementation Institution Confederation (ACSIC) Training Program
CGCC Participated in the 31st Asian Credit Supplementation Institution Confederation (ACSIC) Training Program

Through this training program, each member and observer of ACSIC was given an opportunity to share their respective credit guarantee  regarding their institutions’ background, law and regulation, schemes/products, procedure, and mechanisms, especially credit guarantee schemes to support Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). Beyond credit guarantee, CGCC and other delegates also shared the commitment and effort in improving financial literacy for MSMEs through capacity-building programs.

ACSIC is the cooperation of the largest Asia’s credit guarantee organization established in 1987, designed for improving the credit guarantee system, which currently has 19 members and observers from 13 Asian countries.

CGCC Participated in the 31st Asian Credit Supplementation Institution Confederation (ACSIC) Training Program
CGCC Participated in the 31st Asian Credit Supplementation Institution Confederation (ACSIC) Training Program
CGCC Participated in the 31st Asian Credit Supplementation Institution Confederation (ACSIC) Training Program
CGCC Participated in the 31st Asian Credit Supplementation Institution Confederation (ACSIC) Training Program

 

Signing of a $3 million Portfolio Guarantee Agreement for Women Entrepreneurs Between CGCC and Prince Bank

On 13 July 2023 at Prince Tower, CGCC and Prince Bank signed a $3 million Portfolio Guarantee Agreement for women entrepreneurs. The Agreement is signed by Mr. Wong Keet Loong, Chief Executive Officer of CGCC, and Mr. Honn Sorachna, Managing Director and CEO of Prince Bank, with a participation of Lork Chum Teav Oknha Keo Mom, President of Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association (CWEA).

The Portfolio Guarantee Scheme (PGS) for Women Entrepreneurs of CGCC and Prince Bank is effective from 01 August 2023 which will enables Prince Bank to disbursed guaranteed loans to women entrepreneurs without having to get CGCC’s guarantee approval on each loan prior to loan disbursement. This PGS for Women Entrepreneurs will support quicker, easier, and more CGCC’s guaranteed loan disbursements through Prince Bank to women entrepreneurs who lack of collateral.

Signing of a $3 million Portfolio Guarantee Agreement for Women Entrepreneurs Between CGCC and Prince Bank
Signing of a $3 million Portfolio Guarantee Agreement for Women Entrepreneurs Between CGCC and Prince Bank

Mr. Wong Keet Loong, CEO of CGCC said “This USD3mil portfolio guarantee scheme (PGS) with Prince Bank was structured specifically to support women entrepreneurs in providing guaranteed loans.  We hope that with the bank’s strong network, we can increase our guarantees to women-owned businesses.  As at todate, CGCC has guaranteed 40% of its total guarantees of USD130mil to women-owned MSMEs ie. USD50mil.”

He added that The woman scheme comes with lower interest rates and guarantee fees for the 1st year.  These favorable terms will enable women MSMEs to obtain lower cost of financing.”

Signing of a $3 million Portfolio Guarantee Agreement for Women Entrepreneurs Between CGCC and Prince Bank
Signing of a $3 million Portfolio Guarantee Agreement for Women Entrepreneurs Between CGCC and Prince Bank

Mr. Honn Sorachna, Managing Director and CEO of Prince Bank Plc. stated “We are honored and excited to join the force with CGCC to boost the local economy by supporting the MSMEs segments, especially women MSMEs. Women are the cornerstone of a strong family foundation and in their community. Their involvement and contribution to commerce and the economy at large are very significant and very much lauded. women entrepreneurs with unique abilities and determination are admirable and should be emulated. They deserve the support and encouragement to grow from strength to strength. Under the Portfolio Guarantee Scheme (PGS), we aim to provide better liquidity with special conditions to women-owned micro, small, and medium enterprises to give them extra support for their working capital to invest and sustain their businesses. It’s always our top priority to support Cambodian individuals and businesses for their financial needs; we are trying harder to enhance our products and services and make them conveniently accessible to our Cambodians.”

Prince Bank has become CGCC’s Participating Financial Institutions (PFI) since 2021 and has actively utilized CGCC’s credit guarantees to address the MSMEs’ challenge of lacking collaterals by providing guaranteed loans. CGCC and Prince Bank hope that this PGS for Women Entrepreneurs will support Cambodian women entrepreneurs that are mainly MSMEs, the backbone of the economy.

Signing of a $3 million Portfolio Guarantee Agreement for Women Entrepreneurs Between CGCC and Prince Bank
Signing of a $3 million Portfolio Guarantee Agreement for Women Entrepreneurs Between CGCC and Prince Bank

About CGCC

CGCC is the first-ever credit guarantee corporation in Cambodia, established by the decision of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister as a state-owned enterprise under the technical and financial guidance of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. CGCC’s main mission is to provide credit guarantees to lenders on loans made to businesses based on international standards to share the risk with lenders and to improve financial inclusion.

About Prince Bank Plc.

Prince Bank Plc. started its business operations in 2015 as a private microfinance institution under the former name “Prince Finance Plc.” and was transformed into a commercial bank with license No. B 46 was granted by the National Bank of Cambodia on 18 July 2018. With a strong capital base, robust technological capabilities, solid expertise, and extensive knowledge of the local market, the bank aspires to become the industry leader by offering differentiated financial solutions through a mix of channels with great convenience to our customers. We are keen on contributing to the development of small and medium enterprises that constitute a key segment of our target customers. Currently, Prince Bank Plc. has 34 branches and 82 ATM locations nationwide.

CGCC provides $120M credit guarantees to biz

The Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia (CGCC) provided credit guarantees of $120 million to businesses as of February 2023.

CGCC announced on Wednesday that it supported 1,367 businesses by providing credit guarantees for their loan applications as of the end of April 2023.

The report stated that a significant portion of the loan guarantees were used for working capital, investment, business expansion, and capital expenditures.

The total amount of outstanding guaranteed loans was $97.5 million, while the total amount of outstanding guaranteed obligations was $70.32 million.

It said that there are 1,249 small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and 118 large businesses in Cambodia.

About 550 were women-owned, 513 were secured loans, and 854 were unsecured loans.

CGCC said that various credit guarantee schemes played a vital role in strengthening entrepreneurship and improving financial inclusion in Cambodia, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, by facilitating the smooth distribution of loans.

It launched three guarantee schemes so far, including the Business Recovery Guarantee Scheme (BRGS) in March 2022; the Co-Financing Guarantee Scheme (CFGS) in September 2021; and the Women Entrepreneurs Guarantee Scheme in April 2022. The CGCC also extended the CFGS to the tourism sector.

The CGCC, which is under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, extended the BRGS from January 1, 2023, until the $200 million scheme is fully utilized.

These guarantee schemes are a way to help businesses get the money they need to grow and succeed. They are a valuable tool for supporting entrepreneurship and financial inclusion in the country.

The extension of BRGS will include updates to some of its features, such as the scheme period, the definition of MSMEs and large firms, and the maximum loan amount for each guarantee.

BRGS aims to help businesses, including MSMEs and large firms, obtain formal loans from participating financial institutions for working capital, investment, and business expansion.

CGCC, the first credit guarantee institution in the country, was established in August 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, to provide timely credit to support the rehabilitation and sustainability of local businesses.

The Cambodian Credit Guarantee Corporation has played an important role in serving the needs of small and medium enterprises in Cambodia, which are struggling during the epidemic of Covid-19 and the inflation crisis, and need credit from banks for their businesses.

It played a vital role in supporting SMEs who have been struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic and the inflation crisis, and they need credit from banks to keep their businesses afloat.

Credit to : Khmer Times Published on May 19, 2023

Courtesy visit by CGCC to NBC to discuss on the current situation of the credit market in Cambodia

On Friday, 12 May 2023, at the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia (CGCC), led by Mr. Wong Keet Loong, CEO of CGCC, paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Rath Sovannorak, Assistant Governor and Director General of Banking Supervision of NBC.

CGCC’s CEO, Mr. KL Wong was very grateful for the warm welcome of H.E Sovannorak and his team and was very pleased to update on CGCC’s latest progress in providing credit guarantee and CGCC’s strategy that requires close cooperation and support from NBC.

In response, H.E. Sovannorak praised the progress made by CGCC and expressed his support for CGCC’s mission to provide guarantees on loans disbursed by banks and microfinance institutions (MFIs) to businesses that lack collaterals, especially SMEs, the backbone of the economy,​ and to raise SMEs awareness on financial literacy.

The meeting also discussed the latest development in the banking sector, new NBC regulations as well as ways to enhance cooperation to improve financial inclusion and access to finance.

CGCC provides $105M credit guarantees to over 1K businesses

The Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia (CGCC) provided credit guarantees of $105 million as of February to businesses as their working capital for expansion.

In a factsheet issued on March 10, CGCC said that as of the end of February it has supported 1,155 businesses by providing credit guarantees for their loan applications, amounting to $104.9 million.

Large portions of the loan guarantee were used as working capital and other purposes of investment or business expansion, and capital expenditure, the report mentioned. As of January 2023, the outstanding guaranteed loan was $81.6 million while the outstanding guaranteed amount was $58.8 million.

Various credit guarantee schemes have played a crucial role in strengthening entrepreneurship and enhancing financial inclusion in Cambodia, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, through the smooth disbursal of loans, CGCC said.

The CGCC has come up with three guarantee schemes so far — the Business Recovery Guarantee Scheme (BRGS) launched in March 2022, the Co-Financing Guarantee Scheme (CFGS) unveiled in September 2021 and the Women Entrepreneurs Guarantee Scheme launched in April 2022, besides the extension of the CFGS to tourism. The CGCC of the Ministry of Economy and Finance has extended the BRGS from January 1, 2023, until the $200-million scheme is fully utilised.

Updating some scheme features, including the scheme period, the definition of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and large firms, and the maximum loan amount for each guarantee are on the extension of BRGS.

BRGS aims to support businesses, including MSMEs and firms, to enhance their access to formal loans from Participating Financial Institutions for working capital, investment, and business expansion.

CGCC-guaranteed loans jump 13% year-to-date, top $104M

Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia Plc (CGCC) reportedly issued a total of 1,155 Letters of Guarantee (LG) for loans worth $104.9 million equivalent as of February 28 – up 13 per cent year-to-date – as part of its mission to improve financial inclusion among small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and promote the sustainability and expansion of businesses worst hit by Covid-19.

As of January 31, the outstanding guaranteed amount was $58.9 million out of the $81.6 million worth of loans covered by the LGs, as noted by the state-owned enterprise in a new report, remaining in the 70-80 per cent target range at just over 72 per cent.

The CGCC was established by Sub-Decree No 140/ANKR/BK on September 1, 2020, and its $200 million Business Recovery Guarantee Scheme (BRGS) was launched on March 29, 2021 in a bid to widen access to formal loans from participating financial institutions (PFI) for working capital, investment and business expansions.

Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA) chairman Sok Voeun lauded the CGCC’s credit guarantee arrangements as important tools for SMEs to access formal unsecured loans to keep their businesses afloat and expand in light of Covid-19 bruises.

He told The Post on March 13 that commercial banks accounted for 80 per cent of loans covered by the 1,155 LGs, while microfinance institutions (MFI) “partnering with the PFI” constituted the rest.

On the other hand, banking institutions accounted for about 95 per cent of the $104.9 million loan value, he said.

“We’ve provided credit to most of the priority sectors, including services, agriculture and manufacturing,” he affirmed.

“We are happy to join the CGCC because risks are guaranteed. We’ve noted that since the beginning of the project, the rate of bad loans has been minimal because the businesses have the potential to stimulate economic activity, although they may not have collateral.

“Hence the credit guarantee scheme has been a big help for them to expand their businesses,” he said.

The finance ministry has authorised the extension of the BRGS beyond December 31, 2022, until all funds have been utilised, an early-January CGCC statement confirmed, which noted that the terms of the scheme had also been updated, including the maximum guarantee amounts for differing categories of businesses.

The statement disclosed that loans, mostly unsecured, totalling about $89 million were guaranteed by the CGCC as of December 31 under the BRGS.

Cambodia Post Bank Plc, one of the PFIs, accounted for roughly $1 million of that, all of which went to SMEs, confirmed its CEO Toch Chaochek, telling The Post on March 13 that the plan is to increase that to $5-10 million in 2023.

To this end, the bank aims to shift its focus, from large SMEs with adequate collateral that are seeking to expand, to smaller ones without the assets needed for the secured loans to do the same, he revealed.

“The CGCC project is great for SMEs that do not have the collateral to obtain the loans – they have a shot at rehabilitating and expanding their businesses,” Chaochek said.

Credit to: Phnom Penh Post, Publication date 13 March 2023

Give a Day: Credit Guarantee Schemes & Its role in Enterprise Development

The 11th Give a Day has featured the Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia as its keynote as well as enabled Cambodia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to connect at the new Khmer Enterprise Headquarters for the first time in 2023.

Khmer Enterprise CEO Dr. Chhieng Vanmunin delivered the welcoming remarks highlighting the ongoing progression of the initiative which was first piloted in 2021 before receiving its full funding for monthly and quarterly meetings in 2022 and has now been renewed for 2023.

“The Give a Day monthly meetings and quarterly ecosystem builder events have been greatly welcomed by Cambodia’s entrepreneurial community – and have provided both learnings and networking opportunities between various sectors,” he told over 50 attendees from the ecosystem at KE headquarters.

Give a Day: Credit Guarantee Schemes & Its role in Enterprise Development
Give a Day: Credit Guarantee Schemes & Its role in Enterprise Development
Sabine Joukes Pact Cambodia Country Director and WE Act Chief of Party, Khmer Enterprise CEO Dr. Chhieng Vanmunin, Rajiv Pradhan Country Director at Swisscontact in Cambodia.

“We also wanted to welcome everyone to our new headquarters at the Business Development Center in Chroy Changvar, Phnom Penh, and advise that our open working space is available to everyone in the ecosystem as well as both our meetings’ rooms and event space,” he added.

Rajiv Pradhan Country Director at Swisscontact in Cambodia and Sabine Joukes Pact Cambodia Country Director and WE Act Chief of Party echoed this statement adding it was fantastic to reconnect the ecosystem for the first time in 2023.

Increase credit guarantee issuance by 50% in 2023

Delivering the keynote CGCC CEO, Wong Keet Loong commented the scheme was looking to increase the number of transactions it underwrites by 50% in 2023 as the organization looks to increase its outreach to the country’s micro and small and medium businesses, (MSMEs).

CGCC received its sub-decree on September 2020 and was fully incorporated in November 2020 its guarantees are intended to expand the availability of credit to smaller enterprises that may not have the collateral which banks typically require to advance working capital loans.

Give a Day: Credit Guarantee Schemes & Its role in Enterprise Development
Give a Day: Credit Guarantee Schemes & Its role in Enterprise Development
Conversations after the keynote presentation.

Initially launched as a tool to close the credit gap that emerged between small businesses during the pandemic, the CGCC issued its first guarantee in April 2021 and has since given a total of 985 Letters of Guarantee (LG) for loans worth $92.7. Mr Loong said that the CGCC had even more ambitious targets for 2023.

“My biggest goal for this year is to increase the outreach of our guarantees. The CGCC wants to provide guarantees to 1500 SMEs this year. We want to guarantee $100 million of loans in 2023. I know that is optimistic but I believe it can be done,” he said in response to a question from Cambodia Investment Review.

Rising interest rates may impact growth

Mr Loong said that the main barrier to reaching this target was the global macro picture, particularly the impact of rising US interest rates.

“The main issue right now is that external factors are affecting the cost of funding, which is going up as US interest rates rise and this is affecting a number of financial institutions (FIs). They see that fixed deposit rates are going crazy which is good for depositors, but not FIs and this impacts their lending,” he added.

Give a Day: Credit Guarantee Schemes & Its role in Enterprise Development
Give a Day: Credit Guarantee Schemes & Its role in Enterprise Development
Attendees at the 11th Give a Day.

Global factors may act as a drag on the CGCC’s work in the near term, but fellow speaker H.E. Dr. Chhieng Vanmunin, CEO of Khmer Enterprise, said that if credit guarantees become more widely used in Cambodia it would make it much easier for firms to do business internationally.

“In their current state, a lot of Cambodian companies are unable to demonstrate a track record of success, however, if they run through the credit guarantee program with CGCC it provides a history of how well they managed issues such as shipping and cash flow.

So this is one of the things that we support them to expand their market internationally,” he said.

40% of its guarantees go to female-owned businesses

The CGCC currently offers four different guarantee products and in April last year, it launched it’s third the Women Entrepreneurs Guarantee Scheme (WEGS), a $50m capped fund that is aimed at supporting women and female-owned businesses.

According to the CGCC’s data up to 40% of its guarantees go to female-owned businesses, whereas Mr Loong said that up to 65% of Cambodian MSMEs were run by women. An audience member, who didn’t identify herself, suggested that this gap was partly due to issues over lack of financial knowledge.

“One reason is that we know most women entrepreneur’s businesses are not registered and one way to improve that is via financial literacy, and this will have many benefits. If financial literacy is growing then entrepreneurs are more confident, more informed, and able to negotiate good loans,” she said.

Give a Day: Credit Guarantee Schemes & Its role in Enterprise Development
Give a Day: Credit Guarantee Schemes & Its role in Enterprise Development
Questions and answer session.

Mr Loong responded that the CGCC did support unregistered businesses, for the first year at least and that expanding awareness of credit guarantees should in turn increase the number of registrations by female business owners.

“However, we tell customers that you need to be registered after a year, because when the anniversary comes, if you’re not registered, then we charge you an additional 0.5%. So, in a way, it incentivizes businesses to be registered. But when they come on board, they can be unregistered,” he said.

The Give a Day program returns in 2023

Give a Day is an initiative within the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Building Project (EEB) which is jointly funded by Khmer Enterprise, USAID’s WE Act Project through Pact Cambodia and Swisscontact.

In addition, to monthly meetings, the initiative also included a quarterly Ecosystem Builders Network (EBN) event that focused on mapping the six pillars of Isenberg’s Model of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem.

Give a Day: Credit Guarantee Schemes & Its role in Enterprise Development
Give a Day: Credit Guarantee Schemes & Its role in Enterprise Development
The 11th Give a Day program at Khmer Enterprise Head Office on February 10, 2023.

The quarterly meetings created a space through which ecosystem builders and government agencies can share information, foster best practices, identify market gaps and opportunities, and explore collaboration or complementarity to strengthen the ecosystem.

Cambodia’s ESO ecosystem, broadly defined as groups that support, train, and fund entrepreneurs is still in the nascent stage with many new organizations launched to help nature and develop the sector.

Credit to Cambodia Investment Review: Give a Day: Credit Guarantee Schemes & Its role in Enterprise Development

CGCC and Role of Credit Guarantee Schemes in Enterprise Development of “Give a Day” Event

On 10 February 2023, Mr. Wong Keet Loong, CEO of CGCC, provided a Keynote Presentation on “Credit Guarantee Schemes of CGCC and its Role in Enterprise Development” at “Give a Day” event, co-organized by Swisscontact, Khmer Enterprise, and Pact Cambodia, and presided over by H.E. Dr. Chhieng Vanmunin, Mr. Rajiv Pradhan, Country Director of Swisscontact, Ms. Sabine Joukes, Chief of Party, WE Act/Pact Cambodia, and participated by almost representatives from Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs), investors and business associations.

CGCC and Role of Credit Guarantee Schemes in Enterprise Development of “Give a Day” Event
CGCC and Role of Credit Guarantee Schemes in Enterprise Development of “Give a Day” Event

“Give a Day” is a forum gathering the entrepreneurial ecosystem community in Cambodia that are mutually supporting each other with​ the willingness to​​ bring any open discussion related to entrepreneurship for effective solutions. Today’s “Give a Day” event theme is credit guarantee schemes that are a gateway for SMEs to access formal loans, therefore it is crucial that SMEs and ESOs understand the schemes.

Mr. KL Wong introduced credit guarantee schemes’ journey in Cambodian Financial Ecosystem and its role in supporting potential MSMEs to be able to obtain an easier and larger amount of loans under CGCC’s credit guarantee through CGCC’s participating financial institutions. Participants were pleased to learn about the benefits of credit guarantees and how this financial instrument could address the challenges in access to finance that their members and network are currently facing.

CGCC and Role of Credit Guarantee Schemes in Enterprise Development of “Give a Day” Event
CGCC and Role of Credit Guarantee Schemes in Enterprise Development of “Give a Day” Event
CGCC and Role of Credit Guarantee Schemes in Enterprise Development of “Give a Day” Event
CGCC and Role of Credit Guarantee Schemes in Enterprise Development of “Give a Day” Event

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Understanding Credit Guarantee-Canadia Bank’s View on Partnership with CGCC

Read and Download in PDF: Hear from our PFIs_Canadia Bank

  1. As one of the first banks who become CGCC’s PFIs, what motivates Canadia Bank to utilize the credit guarantee schemes with the existing loan products of Canadia?

One of the main reasons that motivates us to use credit guarantee schemes is that we believe that the CGCC credit guarantee scheme can help potential business owners who need loans to for their businesses but do not have enough collaterals to access more capitals to meet the financial needs of their businesses, especially to recover and expand the businesses after the COVID crisis has been eased.

 

  1. After adopting CGCC’s credit guarantee schemes for more than a year, how do those schemes benefit the bank and your customers?

We have provided loans under the CGCC credit guarantee schemes to more than 200 clients with a total loan size of nearly $ 20 million over the past year. Through these guaranteed loans, clients are able to expand their business in various sectors that generate more employment and contributed significantly to the country’s economic recovery.

 

  1. How does Canadia Bank structure loans with credit guarantee?

We have CGCC’s guaranteed loan programs for potential clients with good credit histories and clear business plans. It can be provided to both existing customers and new customers.

 

  1. Recently, both Canadia Bank and CGCC have each launched products supporting women entrepreneurs. How will the “Smart Lady Loan” and CGCC’s “Women Entrepreneurs Guarantee Scheme” (WEGS) impact women-owned SMEs in greater access to finance regarding unsecured loans?

“Smart Lady” of Canadia Bank and “Women Entrepreneur Guarantee Scheme (WEGS)” of CGCC are making a significant contribution to support women entrepreneurs to access to the finance for their business needs, avoiding high-risk and risky loans. Through these two projects, women entrepreneurs have not only been able to access their loans more easily and conveniently but have significantly reduced their financial costs, especially in the first year, which included lower interest rates and guarantee fees. In addition, women entrepreneurs will receive many other benefits through the Smart Women Lady loan program from Canadia Bank.

 

  1. Canadia Bank is currently the top performer of using CGCC’s scheme, what is Canadia Bank’s strategy of further expanding the usage of credit guarantees, especially to the rural area SMEs?

We continue to reach out to our target customers, especially those who have potential businesses but do not have sufficient collateral to secure a loan. We will also continue to link credit guarantee schemes with our new loan products to provide a wider range of options for our customers.

 

  1. As the credit guarantee topic is a new topic in Cambodia, how should Canadia Bank and CGCC do to raise awareness of credit guarantee to the borrowers?

In order to raise awareness about credit guarantee, we should continue to promote it more comprehensively, especially reach out to more business owners through social media, workshops, business associations, etc.