Background
On 20 March 2026, the Royal Government of Cambodia organized a ceremony in Phnom Penh to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the reintroduction of the Cambodian riel into circulation. The riel was first reintroduced on 20 March 1980 as the national currency. The ceremony took place at the Banking Technology Institute of the National Bank of Cambodia.
The National Assembly was represented by H.E. Cheang Vun, Chair of the Economic, Finance, Banking and Audit Committee (Second Committee), together with senior officials from the General Secretariat of the National Assembly. The event brought together representatives from economic and financial institutions, development partners, and business associations.
Scope of Application
The ceremony and accompanying activities focused on the national currency regime in Cambodia, particularly the role of the riel in the economy. The discussions and research presentations covered the use of currencies in key economic sectors, including the garment, footwear and travel goods industries, and the use of currency in the public sector. The scope extended to broader issues of dollarization and policies to promote greater use of the riel in domestic transactions.
Key Provisions or Decisions
The event was commemorative and analytical in nature and did not announce a new law, regulation, or binding directive. However, it featured the following substantive components:
- Presentation of joint research by the National Bank of Cambodia and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on “Dollarization and Its Impacts on the Garment, Footwear and Travel Goods Sectors in Cambodia,” delivered by the UNDP Resident Representative in Cambodia and the Deputy Resident Representative.
- Presentation of joint research by the National Bank of Cambodia and the National Assembly on “Survey of Currency Usage in the Public Sector,” delivered by H.E. Dr. Keo Piseth, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Assembly and Director of the Cabinet of the President of the National Assembly.
- A panel discussion on “Progress, Challenges and Policies to Promote the Use of the Riel,” moderated by a representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Cambodia.
The participation of the National Assembly’s Economic, Finance, Banking and Audit Committee linked the legislative institution to ongoing analysis and discussion of currency usage and monetary policy implementation, but no specific legislative or regulatory changes were announced in the available content.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
While no new binding measures were detailed, the focus of the event highlights continued attention by Cambodian institutions and development partners to dollarization and the promotion of the riel. The joint research on dollarization in export-oriented manufacturing and on currency use in the public sector indicates ongoing analytical work that could inform future policies encouraging greater use of the riel in transactions and public payments.
Investors and businesses operating in Cambodia, particularly in the garment, footwear and travel goods sectors, may wish to monitor subsequent publications or policy statements from the National Bank of Cambodia, the National Assembly, and relevant ministries that could arise from these studies and discussions. Any future measures to promote use of the riel could affect invoicing practices, payment modalities, and financial risk management.
Official Source
The information is based on a post published by the National Assembly of Cambodia on its official Facebook page on 20 March 2026.
