Cambodia Investment Review
The Cambodia’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Strengthening Conference 2025 (CAMESCO25) convened at Shangri-La Phnom Penh, bringing together over 260 participants representing 190 organizations to explore how collaboration can catalyze systemic impact in Cambodia’s growing entrepreneurial landscape.
Organized under the Enhancing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Investments (3Ei) initiative, CAMESCO25 is co-financed by Khmer Enterprise (KE), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and co-implemented by Khmer Enterprise and Swisscontact Cambodia. The 2025 edition is supported by Gold Sponsors, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), The Nippon Foundation, and ADB Frontier, along with strategic partners GIZ and the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE).
Under the theme “From Collaboration to Catalyzing Systemic Impact,” the fourth edition of CAMESCO built on the momentum of previous years to advance structural transformation within Cambodia’s entrepreneurial and investment ecosystem. The conference featured a full-day program designed to deepen collaboration among ecosystem actors and generate actionable insights.
Read More: Cambodia’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Strengthening Is Underway With Inaugural CAMESCO
H.E. Dr. Chhieng Vanmunin, Delegate of the Royal Government in charge as Chief Executive Officer of Khmer Enterprise, said, “Through collaboration, Khmer Enterprise and our partners have been working to build and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing the right support and creating meaningful impact for entrepreneurs in Cambodia. Each Entity plays a unique role in contributing resources and expertise to address challenges collectively.”
The opening session featured welcome remarks from Mr. Reto Grüninger, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Cambodia, representing the SDC. In his remarks, Mr. Grüninger highlighted Switzerland’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and fostering local economic development in Cambodia. He noted that recent global developments have underscored the urgency of accelerating efforts to build a more diversified, formalized, and resilient economy. In this context, a strong, dynamic SME sector can play a pivotal role in creating value, driving innovation, and promoting inclusive growth, Mr. Grüninger stated. To achieve this, he pointed to the need to further improve the regulatory business environment and expand access to affordable finance.
The conference opened with a focus on collaboration as a catalyst for systemic impact, illustrating how partnerships can turn shared efforts into scalable solutions for sustainable growth. In his keynote, Mr. Itsu Adachi, Executive Director of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, underscored Japan’s commitment to impact investment and regional collaboration among GSG Partners in Southeast Asia. Cambodian success stories further demonstrated how strategic partnerships drive systemic transformation, highlighted by Ms. Sokhuy Lay of Swisscontact Cambodia. The session “Mobilizing Capital: Investment Pathways for Sustainable Growth,” led by Mr. Neil Bose of Convergence, explored trends and challenges in green and climate investment. A subsequent panel moderated by Ms. Sucharita Kamath of ANDE, with representatives from GIF, Khmer Enterprise, and EMIA, discussed unlocking sustainable finance for Cambodia’s growth.
The afternoon sessions focused on building a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready entrepreneurial ecosystem. Mr. Makoto Wada of The Nippon Foundation delivered a keynote on corporate roles in fostering equitable and sustainable innovation. Ms. Sreynang Hun of Khmer Enterprise shared key updates from Cambodia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, including the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Roadmap 2025–2035 and initiatives like Give a Day and the Ecosystem Builder Network. A session on “Global and Regional Best Practices Driving Entrepreneurial Success” featured Mr. Deepak Menon of Village Capital and Mr. Ziv Ragowsky of Wright Partners, who discussed accelerator models promoting sustainable growth.
The conference concluded with “Entrepreneurship Without Barriers: Unlocking Potential Through Inclusion,” co-hosted by SPF and The Nippon Foundation, where panelists emphasized inclusive entrepreneurship as a driver of innovation and equity in Cambodia’s ecosystem.
Alongside the main program, a Speed Dating session co-hosted by GIZ and the Entrepreneur Investment Support (EIS) initiative facilitated direct networking between startups, SMEs, and regional and local investors, exploring partnership and investment opportunities.
“Swisscontact continues to contribute to and support the entrepreneurial ecosystem to foster sustainable growth. Through the 3Ei initiative, our focus as an ecosystem builder is to strengthen collaboration, innovation, and shared ownership in driving Cambodia’s entrepreneurial development. CAMESCO embodies this commitment by bringing partners together to turn collective ambition into scalable solutions through learning and partnerships.”- Dr. Daniel Nugraha, Country Director, Swisscontact.
CAMESCO25 reaffirmed its role as a flagship platform for collaboration, learning, and innovation within Cambodia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. By mobilizing diverse partners, resources, and knowledge, the conference continues to support the country’s transformation toward becoming a regional hub for entrepreneurship, impact investment, and sustainable growth.
