Phnom penh: The Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC), in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility (CGIF), and the Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia (CGCC), convened the first-ever Investor Roundtable on Sustainable Finance at the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh this week.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the meeting was held under the auspices of H.E. Sou Socheat, Director General of the SERC, Ms. Nathalie Andr©, Country Representative of GGGI, and Ms. Deanna Morris, Economic Affairs Officer of ESCAP. This initiative comes at a critical time as Cambodia faces increasing climate-related challenges, despite its minimal contribution to global emissions. Current projections indicate that without adequate investment in adaptation and resilience, climate impacts could shrink Cambodia's GDP by nearly 10 percent by 2050.
In response, the Cambodian government has outlined ambitious objectives under its Pentagonal Strategy, Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and Long-Term Strategy for Carbon Neutrality. These targets include a 41.7 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. However, realizing these goals necessitates substantial financing, primarily from the private sector, as many green projects struggle to attract investors and bankable funding.
The Investor Roundtable on Sustainable Finance was organized to address this investment gap by connecting project developers with investors, highlighting sustainable investment opportunities, and facilitating the capital flow needed to achieve Cambodia's climate and development goals. The event focused on enhancing investor engagement in Cambodia's green finance market by linking investors with viable green and social projects.
Participants included representatives from institutional investors, financial institutions, multilateral agencies, and project developers, who gathered to discuss investment priorities, risk mitigation strategies, and financing solutions. SERC Director General H.E. Sou Socheat reiterated the government's dedication to promoting sustainable finance, emphasizing the importance of maintaining trust and alignment with international standards in preventing greenwashing risks.
Ms. Deanna Morris from ESCAP noted that the Roundtable originated from the ESCAP-SERC report on building bankable green project pipelines in Cambodia's non-infrastructure sectors. She expressed hope that the event would evolve into an annual platform fostering connections between investors and project developers, thereby directing more capital toward climate-positive projects.
Ms. Nathalie Andr© of GGGI highlighted the significance of transparency and adherence to international best practices, especially for external investors in Cambodia's current investment climate. She underscored the applicability of the Green Bond framework to other international financial resources, including investments from Multilateral Development Banks, which contribute to both the climate change agenda and Cambodia's well-being.
The roundtable featured a Green Finance Pitch Session, where leading Cambodian companies presented investment-ready green projects. This was followed by an Investor Panel Discussion, which included insights from local and international stakeholders on financing priorities, risk mitigation, and blended finance solutions for emerging markets.