Background
On 20 March 2026, the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) organized a ceremony and seminar to commemorate Riel Day, marking the 46th anniversary of the reintroduction of the riel into circulation (20 March 1980 – 20 March 2026). The event was held at the Institute of Banking Studies (IBS) under the chairmanship of H.E. Cheang Vun, Chair of the Commission on Economy, Finance, Banking and Audit of the National Assembly.
The seminar formed part of broader efforts to highlight the role of the riel in Cambodia’s society and economy and to share recent research undertaken on currency use and dollarization in key economic sectors and in the public sector.
Scope of Application
The event brought together stakeholders involved in monetary policy, financial sector development, and economic governance. Participants included senior officials from the National Assembly, relevant ministries and public institutions, development partners, banking and financial institutions, private sector representatives, and students, with a total of approximately 250 attendees.
The discussions and research presented focused on the use of the riel and foreign currencies in the garment, footwear, travel goods and bag manufacturing sectors, as well as currency use within the public sector.
Key Provisions or Decisions
During the event, H.E. Yim Leat, Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia, delivered remarks summarizing the main findings of two key research documents prepared by the NBC in cooperation with the National Assembly and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Cambodia:
- An executive report on research results titled “Dollarization and Its Impacts on the Garment, Footwear, Travel Goods and Bag Manufacturing Sectors in Cambodia”.
- A research article titled “An Examination of Currency Use in the Public Sector”.
In addition, the seminar featured an in-depth panel discussion on the topic “Progress, Challenges and Policies to Promote the Use of the Riel”. Senior officials from the National Bank of Cambodia, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, and the Association of Banks in Cambodia participated as speakers.
The event aimed to present and debate evidence on the current state of dollarization, sectoral impacts, and the policy directions being considered to encourage broader use of the riel in economic and public sector transactions.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
The research and discussions presented at the seminar provide insight into how currency use patterns, particularly dollarization, affect the garment, footwear, and travel goods manufacturing sectors, which are significant for Cambodia’s export economy. Stakeholders in these sectors may draw on the findings to better understand operational and financial implications of currency use in wages, pricing, and contracts.
The examination of currency use in the public sector indicates ongoing policy attention to how the riel is utilized in government-related payments and transactions. While the event itself did not announce new regulations, it underscores the National Bank of Cambodia and other authorities’ continued focus on policies that promote greater use of the riel, which may inform future monetary or financial sector measures.
Official Source
The information is based on an official announcement by the National Bank of Cambodia published on its verified Facebook page on 20 March 2026.
