Tag: Guarantee
Cambodia and Laos Credit Agencies Sign MSME Support Pact
Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia and Laos Credit Guarantee Sole Company Limited have inked a deal to strengthen credit guarantee services, improve MSME financing access and collaborate on green finance initiatives
The Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia (CGCC) and Laos Credit Guarantee Sole Company Limited (LCGC) have signed an agreement to enhance the development of credit guarantee services and the sound growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) of both nations.
On May 11, 2026, CGCC and LCGC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) marking the establishment of a cooperative relationship between the two credit guarantee institutions.
No Lida, CEO of CGCC, believes the MoU will bring mutual benefits through collaboration in capacity building, information exchange and operational improvements, adding that it marks the beginning of a “long and impactful” partnership between the two institutions.
“Innovation is not defined by institutional maturity. Although CGCC began operations earlier than LCGC, there may be areas where LCGC performs better, and we welcome those opportunities to learn and improve together,” he said.
Wong Keet Loong, CEO of LCGC, said the partnership will support the development of LCGC to play its role in improving access to finance for MSMEs in Laos.
He added that the MoU establishes a structured framework for ongoing collaboration between CGCC and LCGC in the development and implementation of a credit guarantee scheme to support MSMEs, as well as in the exchange of knowledge on green taxonomy and climate and green financing guarantee schemes.
“As government-established, state-owned credit guarantee institutions, both organisations share a common mandate to ease financing constraints for MSMEs, a sector that serves as a cornerstone of regional economic development,” he said.
Credit to: KIRIPOST, Published on 13 MAY 2026
Cambodia, Laos credit guarantee firms ink MoU to support MSME growth
The Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia (CGCC) and Credit Guarantee Sole Company Limited (LCGC) Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance the development of credit guarantee services and the sound growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in both countries.
The MOU was signed by No Lida, CEO of CGCC, and Wong Keet Loong, CEO of LCGC, and witnessed by senior representatives from the Lao Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Finance, Bank of Lao PDR, totalling 30 participants in Phnom Penh on May 11.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Lida said, “The MOU between CGCC and LCGC will bring mutual benefits through collaboration in capacity building, information exchange, and operational improvements.”
“It marks the beginning of a long and impactful partnership between our two institutions. Innovation is not defined by institutional maturity. Although CGCC began operations earlier than LCGC, there may be areas where LCGC performs better, and we welcome those opportunities to learn and improve together,” he added.
During his remarks, Wong said, “We are honoured to sign this MoU with CGCC today, establishing a strategic collaboration for LCGC. CGCC has strong foundations and has matured over the last 5 years into a model credit guarantee institution in the region.”
The LCGC CEO noted that the partnership will support the development of LCGC in improving access to finance for MSMEs in Laos.
He continued, “The MOU establishes a structured framework for ongoing collaboration between CGCC and LCGC in the development and implementation of a credit guarantee scheme to support MSMEs, as well as in the exchange of knowledge on green taxonomy and climate/green financing guarantee schemes.”
“As Government-established, state-owned credit guarantee institutions, both organisations share a common mandate to ease financing constraints for MSMEs, a sector that serves as a cornerstone of regional economic development,” he added.
Credit to: Khmer Times, Published on 13 May 2026
Meet an Inspiring Woman Entrepreneur in the Rice Sector: Growing from Family Businesses to International Markets
Mrs. Lor Sengleap is the director of Sek Meas Rice Milling and the founder of Lor Eak Heng Sek Meas Rice company. She took over the family-owned rice milling business from her father in 1994. Over the years, as she observed the industry’s potential, growing market demand, and pursued her dream of exporting rice abroad, she began developing and expanding the business in 2011.
She shared how her rice export journey began, mentioning that she used a loan as working capital to purchase rice and increase her stock. This enabled her to fulfill her dream of exporting rice for the first time in 2014. Today, her company exports rice to Europe, the United States, and mostly to the Chinese market.
She also shared that expanding the business was difficult due to limited capital and a lack of knowledge about standard machinery. However, these challenges did not stop her, as she spent time learning and raising capital to equip the business with machinery that met operational standards.
“I expand in stages. Each year, we focus on expanding specific areas. We need to have a clear goal for what we want to expand each year to produce rice.” she said.
Her business expansion continued to face capital constraints until she received information about a business loan guarantee from the Cambodia Rice Federation. She then applied for a loan as working capital to expand her business. She added, “This guaranteed loan is beneficial because we already have loans at commercial banks. Since CGCC does not require collateral, we can apply for a guaranteed loan through CGCC’s partner bank as additional working capital.”
She recalled starting the business alongside her father with just two workers. Over time, the business has grown to employ 40 workers. Today, her rice mill produces between eight and ten containers a day, with each holding 24 tons. She is also able to purchase around 600 tons of wet paddy daily, compared to less than 100 tons in the past when traditional drying methods were used.
“Before, I was only able to buy paddy rice that farmers brought in for retail. After expanding my business, I installed a paddy drying machine and began purchasing paddy delivered by truck in large volumes,” she emphasized.
Her ambition did not stop there. She wishes to expand her business and contribute to Cambodia’s rice exports, with the aim of promoting Cambodian rice products, helping rice farmers access markets, and supporting the national economy. In early 2026, Mrs. Lor Seng Leap received a certificate of appreciation and an award as a top performing beneficiary of CGCC who utilized guaranteed loans effectively. The award was presented to her by His Excellency Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance.
Download PDF: Inspiring Woman Entrepreneur in the Rice Sector: Growing from Family Businesses to International Markets
CGCC Participating in the Roundtable Discussion “Essential Steps to Prepare for a Bank Loan Application”
On 10 April 2026, Ms. Lim Chanthida, Director of Centralized Operations of CGCC participated as a panelist in the roundtable discussion on “Essential Steps to access to Finance for a Bank Loan Application”, organized in the Khmer Products Exhibition 2026 of Federation of Associations SMEs of Cambodia (FASMEC) at the Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Center.
The panel discussion was organized with the aim of providing knowledge about the key requirements that banks require, providing guidance on how to prepare financial documents and reports with confidence, and sharing experience in request and manage loan.
During the discussion, Ms. Lim Chanthida did a presentation on CGCC’s credit guarantee scheme, introduced how to obtain guaranteed loans and highlighted the important role of CGCC in improving access to finance for SMEs through credit guarantee mechanism. She also shared more insights into CGCC’s credit guarantee scheme which can help reduce the burden of collateral requirements for businesses to increase their chances of obtaining loans from banks.
CGCC Participates in the WE Share Season 2 program, under the theme “Building Good Governance to Ensure Operational Efficiency and Sustainability”
On 08 April 2026, Ms. Chun Sothany, Director of the Department of Strategy and Business Development of CGCC, participated as an honorary speaker in the WE Share Season 2 program, under the theme “Building Good Governance to Ensure Operational Efficiency and Sustainability,” organized by the Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association (CWEA) at the CGCC Office.
In this event, Ms. Sothany was pleased to share her personal experiences and perspectives on building good governance for organizations and implementation in all businesses, serving as an input for participants in transforming a business from a regular business into a business full of confidence from all stakeholders, to help ensure the efficiency and sustainability of the country’s economy.
The WE Share Season 2 program is a sharing platform for women entrepreneurs to learn more about leadership, management, planning, and implementation as complementary inputs to strengthen personal capacity and advance their business development. CGCC is pleased to support Cambodian women entrepreneurs through today’s event and strongly believes that women entrepreneurs will gain practical knowledge, experience, and expand networking for their own capacity building and business development.
CGCC team participated in the AUPP Career Fair Spring 2026, held by the American University of Phnom Penh (AUPP)
On March 26, 2026, upon invitation, CGCC team participated in the AUPP Career Fair Spring 2026, held by the American University of Phnom Penh (AUPP) at the University. In this career fair, CGCC also participated in the exhibition and provided general information about CGCC and credit guarantee to students and general participants to get more understanding, and the job opportunities available at CGCC for all students interested in developing their future career with CGCC.
This career fair is designed to provide a platform for students and general participants to explore more about the job opportunities that are in high demand in the market, and as an opportunity for all participants to grab the chance to explore their dreams in the various institutions that participated in this fair as well.
Meet a Small Fisheries Enterprise with a Big Dream
Siem Reap Province: My name is Kim Sophors, and I am the owner of Spotlight Foods Enterprise. I produced dried fish, fermented fish, stuffed frog, and fish processing products such as crispy fish skin and fried fish bone. This business began as a family operation passed down from my mother. In 2019, my husband and I started focusing on improving and strengthening our product standards. Today, we have 3 full-time employees and 2 part-time employees.
Starting my business wasn’t easy. I began by following the traditional methods my mother taught me, but those methods made it hard to keep up with what the market demands. Because our production depended on natural condition, we could only produce dried fish during the dry season, which limited our supply. On top of that, I didn’t have enough knowledge about food safety, product standards, or modern machinery that could streamline our production chain. At that time, my production volume was very small, and I didn’t have the confidence to accept large orders.
In 2024, I learned about the Investment Support Facility (ISF) project from a friend. I looked for more information and decided to apply. As a result, I received support to strengthen my processing capacity to standardize and modernize the infrastructure of my production.
Through this project, I received facility support, including a solar drying house and a freezer. I also gained new knowledge through capacity-building training on production, food safety, and the Certificate of Compliance to Requirements of the Cambodia Quality Seal (CQS) facilitated by UNIDO. In addition, I secured a guaranteed loan from CGCC through one of its PFI, under the ISF project, which helped me upgrade my infrastructure to meet building standards for handicraft production and purchase additional equipment.
Since receiving support from the project and the guaranteed loan from CGCC, my business has become about 20 percent more profitable. Before, I could only produce between 20 and 30 kilograms of fresh fish per day. Now, I can produce between 100 and 150 kilograms per day or even more depending on the orders I receive. On average, I produce between 50 and 70 kilograms of dried fish per day. Previously, I could produce less than 10 kilograms of dried fish.
I am really proud of this growth because it has not only increased my business revenue, but it has also created jobs for my team, boosted the income of fishermen and fish farmers, and local grocery sellers.
In addition, I feel even more confident in my products now because my dried fish has passed laboratory testing and is officially registered. Today, my products are sold in markets around Siem Reap and are distributed by traders to retails shops in the provinces and to restaurants. Also, I am currently working closely with AEON Malls and Chip Mong Supermarkets to bring my products on their shelves, and I’m hopeful that they will be available there in early 2026. Looking ahead, I truly believe that within the next two years, Spotlight Foods Enterprise will reach international markets.
Download PDF: Meet a Small Fisheries Enterprise with a Big Dream
CGCC’s 5-Year Anniversary “5 Years of Strategic Guarantees for Inclusive Economic Development”
CGCC’s 5-Year Anniversary “5 Years of Strategic Guarantees for Inclusive Economic Development”
On 27 January 2026, the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia (CGCC) co-organized CGCC’s 5-year Anniversary under the theme “5 Years of Strategic Guarantees for Inclusive Economic Development”, presided over by H.E Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance, at Sun and Moon Riverside Hotel.
This 5-year Anniversary celebration was organized to commemorate CGCC’s significant milestones, review institution’s performance over the past five years of operations, award the Top-Performing Financial Institutions and the Top Enterprise Beneficiaries, and recognize outstanding CGCC staff, as well as gather inputs from relevant stakeholders regarding CGCC’s role in building an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable financial system in Cambodia. Approximately 150 participants from public institutions, development partners, banks and microfinance institutions, securities firms, business associations, and other stakeholders attended the event.
Through this ceremony, H.E Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth officially launched the “Individual Guarantee Plus,” a new scheme of CGCC designed to support government policies, strategies, and priority sectors, including the rice sector, cassava, manufacturing, social housing development, and affordable housing. This scheme is designed to enable borrowers to submit an Expression of Interest to CGCC to obtain a guarantee of up to USD 10 million per loan for working capital and business expansion and allows CGCC to jointly assess, with PFIs, the borrowers’ repayment capacity.
In addition, H.E Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth granted the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s Outstanding Awards to CGCC’s top 3 Participating Financial Institutions, including ABA Bank, Maybank, and Sathapana Bank, that have disbursed the most guaranteed accounts in 2025. The awards also recognized the top enterprise beneficiaries, including Sek Meas Ricemill, Bayon Heritage Holding Group Co., Ltd, and Samnang Dina Lumchang Water Supply, that utilized guaranteed loans effectively. Furthermore, Certificates of Appreciation were presented to ten outstanding CGCC employees in recognition of their longest services, responsibility, professionalism, and dedication to the development of CGCC.
H.E Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth stated that “The establishment of CGCC was a sound and strategic decision by the Royal Government during the 6th Legislature of the National Assembly, under the wise and farsighted leadership of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, former Prime Minister and current President of the Senate, in implementing intervention measures through credit guarantee mechanisms aimed at restoring and promoting economic growth—particularly during the global COVID-19 crisis—based on international best practices and Cambodia’s actual socio-economic context. The credit guarantee mechanism has contributed significantly to the implementation of the Royal Government’s key policies, including: (1) Promoting financial inclusion, especially for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), by increasing their access to financing, (2) Strengthening private sector development, by supporting investment, expanding business operations, and creating more jobs, especially for the youth, (3) Strengthening economic resilience, by increasing market confidence and risk sharing, especially during crises or challenges arising from external factors beyond Cambodia’s control.” [unofficial translation]
CGCC is a state-owned enterprise under the financial and technical guidance of the Ministry of Economy and Finance with the primary vision of providing credit guarantees to enhance financial inclusion and contribute to economic growth. Over the past five years, CGCC has implemented 7 individual guarantee schemes, 17 portfolio guarantee agreements, 1 bond guarantee agreement, and 3 Wholesale guarantee agreements, as well as the Entrepreneurship Program Initiative of CGCC (EPIC). As of 31 December 2025, after 5 years of operations, CGCC has approved credit guarantees on 9,556 accounts of business loans, amounting to USD 521.28 million across the country.
