NBC, UNDP Sign Pact to Boost Riel Use, Sustainable Finance

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 9, 2025) — The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Tuesday to strengthen cooperation on financial inclusion, sustainable finance and digital transformation.

The agreement was signed at the Preah Srey Içanavarman Museum (SOSORO) in Phnom Penh by NBC Governor Chea Serey and Kanni Wignaraja, UN assistant secretary‑general and UNDP regional director for Asia and the Pacific.

Under the partnership, the two institutions will work across three priority areas: promoting wider use of the Khmer riel through phased wage payments and financial literacy programs; advancing climate and sustainable finance through a national taxonomy and ESG frameworks; and operationalizing the Universal Trusted Credentials platform, which helps financial institutions assess creditworthiness and expand access to affordable financing for small businesses.

After the ceremony, Chea wrote on her social media: “Today I signed a memorandum of understanding between UNDP and the National Bank of Cambodia to cooperate on three areas: promoting the use of the riel, advancing climate and sustainable finance, and implementing the Universal Trusted Credentials platform. It was an honor to have Ms. Kanni Wignaraja join as chair of the delegation. I also emphasized the importance of peace, recalling that progress can only be achieved through peace and sovereignty.”

The delegation later toured the SOSORO museum to explore Cambodia’s economic history.