Cambodia hosts conference of Francophone central bank governors

Cambodia hosts conference of Francophone central bank governors The National Bank of Cambodia hosted the 28th Conference of Central Bank Governors of Francophone Countries in Phnom Penh. The two-day forum gathered 26 central bank leaders globally to address "Central Bank Autonomy in the Face of Expectations of the State and the Public". Opening remarks by NBC Governor Chea Serey, Bank of France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau, and ECB President Christine Lagarde emphasized preserving institutional independence amid economic uncertainty. Marking Cambodia's third time hosting since 1996 and 2011, the platform fosters strategic dialogue on shifting socio-economic realities. This prestigious financial meeting directly coincides with Cambodia preparing to host the upcoming 20th Francophonie Summit in November 2026. (Source: Khmer Times)

China pledges continued energy and fertilizer support to Cambodia Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has pledged to strengthen the supply of oil, gas, and fertilizers to Cambodia to mitigate shortages fueled by ongoing Middle East conflicts. The assurance was given during a bilateral meeting in New York with Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn. Both diplomats reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and confirmed preparations for an upcoming visit by high-ranking Cambodian leaders to China later this year. Concurrently, Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasized that securing a stable fertilizer supply is crucial to maintaining agricultural productivity and lowering costs for farmers. He revealed that Cambodia is currently negotiating imports from China while exploring methods to accelerate domestic production to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. (Source: Khmer Times)

MEF discusses measures to streamline and improve business licensing procedures Cambodia's Ministry of Economy and Finance has launched a targeted research study to streamline business registration and reduce administrative burdens. Co-chaired by Phan Phalla and Kong Marry, the meeting finalized the implementation timeline for "Phase I: Improving Business Permitting and Licensing Processes". Implemented with technical assistance from CAPRED and support from Prime Minister Hun Manet's Special Working Group, the project initially targets five priority sectors, including agro-processing, electronics, and tourism. The initiative aims to address procedural redundancies and regulatory bottlenecks. This reform complements Cambodia's broader digital governance push, building on the Single Portal online system, which registered over 53,000 businesses by 2025 to foster investment and local enterprise competitiveness. (Source: Khmer Times)