Background
On 6 August 2026 the Trust Regulator and the National Authority for Alternative Dispute Resolution signed a memorandum of understanding in Phnom Penh to coordinate out-of-court settlement of disputes arising in the trust sector.
The Trust Regulator is the national authority that regulates, supervises, and develops the trust sector in Cambodia. The National Authority for Alternative Dispute Resolution administers formal procedures for out-of-court dispute resolution and issues settlement records under its operational framework.
The MoU defines cooperative mechanisms to improve the quality, efficiency and speed of dispute resolution in the trust sector through mediation and administrative coordination. Agreed actions include referral and recognition of mediated settlements, joint data-sharing to support policy and strategy, and collaborative outreach and capacity-building activities for sector stakeholders.
Scope of Application
The MoU applies to dispute cases in the trust sector that are subject to mediation or other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes conducted by the Trust Regulator. It establishes procedures for referring cases from the Trust Regulator to the NAADR for review and formal recognition, and for joint handling of relevant trust-sector disputes within the NAADR framework.
Key Provisions or Decisions
The principal provisions, as set out by the signatories, include:
- A mechanism for the Trust Regulator to submit dispute files it has mediated successfully to the NAADR for acknowledgement and the preparation of formal settlement records within the NAADR framework, in accordance with NAADR procedures.
- A channel for the Trust Regulator to forward trust-sector dispute cases received from disputing parties to the NAADR for review and resolution under NAADR processes.
- Cooperation between the Trust Regulator and the NAADR to jointly resolve trust-sector disputes and to prepare settlement records in line with NAADR procedural rules.
- A data-sharing arrangement under which the Trust Regulator provides relevant ADR case data to the NAADR to support clear and accurate policy and strategic planning submitted to the Royal Government.
- Joint promotion of the benefits of ADR for trust-sector disputes, including public communication to increase awareness of out-of-court settlement options.
- Collaboration on meetings, workshops, training programmes and other events related to ADR mechanisms for trust-sector disputes.
- Provision for additional cooperative activities to be agreed between the parties as needed.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
The MoU establishes administrative pathways for mediated trust-sector settlements to be reflected in NAADR settlement records, which standardises recognition across the two authorities. Businesses and service providers operating in the trust sector should account for coordinated referral routes and data-sharing between the Trust Regulator and the NAADR when engaging in mediation or compliance processes. The agreement also commits both parties to joint outreach and capacity-building, which may affect how dispute-resolution services are accessed and promoted to sector stakeholders.
Official Source
Primary reporting of the MoU signing is available from the Trust Regulator’s public announcement and linked communications, including the Facebook post at the source URL and the Trust Regulator’s website (https://www.trustregulator.gov.kh).
