AKP Phnom Penh, May 18, 2026 --

The International Labour Organisation (ILO), in partnership with the Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC) and the Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA), officially launched the ILO Financial Education Certification Programme on Monday, with an aim to strengthen financial literacy and promote responsible finance across Cambodia.

The programme includes a five-day Training of Trainers (ToT) course running from May 18 to 22. The initiative brings together banking and microfinance professionals to improve their ability to deliver financial education nationwide.

Speaking at the launching ceremony at the Cambodiana Hotel, Mr. Tun Sophorn, National Coordinator of ILO Cambodia, said the programme represented “a strategic milestone” in a long-standing partnership between the ILO and Cambodia’s financial sector.

He noted that Cambodia had made significant progress in digital wage payments, particularly in the garment sector, where 80 percent of exporting factories registered with Better Factories Cambodia had adopted digital payments, reaching more than 650,000 workers.

Mr. Tun Sophorn added that financial literacy remained critical as digital financial services expanded, warning that inadequate knowledge could expose workers to fraud, misuse of services and over-indebtedness.

Mr. Rath Sophoan, Chairman of ABC, said financial literacy had become essential in an increasingly digital financial landscape. He stressed that the banking sector viewed digital and financial literacy as a key national priority, adding that the programme would help create a strong network of qualified financial education trainers across the country.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sok Voeun, Chairman of CMA, said the initiative would strengthen responsible finance and support Cambodia’s broader goals of financial inclusion and sustainable economic development.

The launch also included the signing of a memorandum of understanding aimed at institutionalising financial education across Cambodia’s banking and microfinance sectors.
 

By Sum Kosal