Cambodia Investment Review
Cambodia participated in the 4th Roundtable Dialogue on “Asian Climate Finance,” held on March 11-12, 2025, in Tokyo, Japan. The event, co-organized by the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), brought together policymakers and financial regulators from across the region to discuss strategies for sustainable finance and carbon market development.
Cambodia’s Role in Climate Finance
With the approval of H.E. Dr. Aun Porn Moniroth, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance, and Chairman of the Non-Bank Financial Services Authority, H.E. Sou Socheat, Director General of the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC), led the Cambodian delegation to the dialogue.
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H.E. Sou Socheat was invited as a keynote speaker on the topic “Carbon Markets and Cambodia’s Efforts to Reduce GHG Emissions: The Role of the SERC.” In his remarks, he highlighted Cambodia’s commitment to sustainability and the ongoing development of the country’s carbon market. The SERC has been actively promoting thematic bonds and working with development partners to enhance capacity-building in sustainable finance, aligning with Cambodia’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Key Themes and Regional Cooperation
The roundtable discussions focused on the implementation of International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) climate-related standards, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets, and the growing role of carbon credits in financial markets. Participants from ASEAN+3 nations, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Georgia, exchanged insights on regulatory challenges, market opportunities, and best practices for sustainable finance.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided updates on regional efforts to lower GHG emissions and shared findings from the Sustainable Finance Regulations and Central Banks Activities Tracker 2024. Additionally, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) presented its latest research on carbon finance, reinforcing the importance of collective action in addressing global climate challenges.
Advancing the Carbon Market in Asia
The event underscored the importance of public-private cooperation in expanding carbon trading mechanisms and enhancing regulatory frameworks for green finance. Through platforms like this roundtable, Cambodia continues to engage with international stakeholders to strengthen its financial market’s role in climate action and contribute to regional sustainability efforts.
The dialogue concluded with discussions on next steps for advancing carbon finance policies and reinforcing commitments to reducing emissions across the region.
