Background
The Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC) signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Business Chamber of Cambodia on 28 August 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh. The MOU provides for SERC to include candidates who complete a SERC-accredited director training course on its list of independent director candidates.
The agreement aims to strengthen corporate governance through capacity building and professional development for board directors, and it explicitly contemplates exploring an Institute of Directors to support director education within Cambodia’s capital market. The partnership brings together market regulator functions—such as accreditation of training programs and maintenance of candidate lists—and private-sector outreach through chambers and industry associations.
Key Developments
The signing ceremony on 28 August 2026 followed presentation of completion certificates to participants who finished the SERC-accredited director training course. Representatives from the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, Association of Banks in Cambodia, Cambodia Microfinance Association, Corporate Connections in Cambodia, and other private-sector stakeholders attended the event.
Institutional Role
The MOU establishes a collaborative mechanism between SERC and the International Business Chamber of Cambodia to coordinate director training, recognition, and candidate listing for independent directorships in listed and non-listed entities. By accrediting training programs and recognising certified graduates, SERC creates an administrative pathway for documented director qualifications to be visible to market participants and issuers.
Compliance Implications
Institutions that appoint independent directors will have access to a regulator-recognised pool of candidates who completed SERC-accredited training, which can inform governance practices and board selection processes. The agreement also sets a precedent for regulator-led professionalisation of directors as part of broader efforts to improve transparency and investor confidence in the securities market.
Source
Original announcement published by Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia: facebook.com/serc.gov.kh
