2026-01-22
H.E. Dr. Chea Serey, Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), met with a delegation from the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), led by Mr. Yasuto Watanabe, Director of the AMRO on the afternoon of 22 January 2026 at the National Bank of Cambodia (Wat Phnom Building).
During the meeting, H.E. the Governor and the Director exchanged views on Cambodia’s economic conditions and challenges, the development of the country’s payment systems, and the application of artificial intelligence, among other topics.
Mr. Yasuto Watanabe commended Cambodia’s progress in developing digital payment systems, noting that many countries have adopted Cambodia’s experience as a reference for their own payment system development. He also reaffirmed AMRO’s commitment to further strengthening cooperation with the National Bank of Cambodia.
In response, H.E. Dr. Chea Serey highlighted the strong cooperation between the two institutions over the years and expressed appreciation for AMRO’s continued support in enhancing the capacity of NBC’s officials and staff. She also underscored ongoing efforts to modernize payment systems and develop innovative functionalities that support the promotion of the Cambodian riel and advance financial inclusion.
With regard to economic developments, both sides noted the positive trend in Cambodia’s export growth, characterized by increasing product diversification and expanding markets, despite continued weaknesses in the construction and real estate sectors.
