PHNOM PENH: Three financial institutions – AMK Microfinance Institution PLC, Foreign Trade Bank of Cambodia PLC, and Maybank (Cambodia) PLC – have been selected as the inaugural cohort of the Climate Bank Accelerator (CBA) Programme, for their commitment to sustainability, level of institutional readiness, alignment with climate finance and green finance strategy goals, and capacity for innovation.
According to a news release of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) issued this morning, this transformative initiative is designed to advance climate finance and sustainability capabilities within Cambodia’s banking sector. The programme supports efforts to green the financial industry in Cambodia, including the development of the Sustainable Finance Roadmap and the implementation of the Sustainable Finance Taxonomy being led by the National Bank of Cambodia.
“We are excited to partner with some of Cambodia’s leading financial institutions to drive sustainable finance and support the transition to a low-carbon, climate resilient economy,” said ADB Country Director for Cambodia Jyotsana Varma. “We extend our gratitude to the Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC) and the National Bank of Cambodia for their partnership and support, and we look forward to deepening collaboration across the sector. The development of a green financial sector is a key objective of ADB’s Private Sector Development Plan under our Cambodia Country Partnership Strategy 2024-2028.”
The inaugural CBA Programme will now enter with the advisory implementation phase, which aims to empower these banks, strengthen their capacity to scale up climate finance, develop innovative green financial products, and enhance climate risk assessment and greenhouse gas emissions disclosure practices.
“AMK is honored to be selected as a pilot institution for the Climate Banking Accelerator Programme, and we are excited to partner with ADB to lead the growth of climate projects and climate finance in Cambodia. This programme also supports AMK’s mission to help our clients mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change,” Kea Borann, Chief Executive Officer of AMK, said.
Echoing the excitement, Dith Sochal, Chief Executive Officer of the Foreign Trade Bank of Cambodia, added, “This strategic partnership propels our journey to become Cambodia’s leading green bank—by strengthening climate risk management, setting credible emissions targets, and scaling practical green financing solutions. Together, we can turn climate ambition into actionable, bankable solutions that foster resilient and low-carbon growth for Cambodia.”
Rath Sophoan, Chief Executive Officer and Country Head of Maybank Cambodia, stated, “Green financing is central to our sustainability commitment. Participating in ADB’s Climate Bank Accelerator is a strategic move that enhances our capacity, deepens our knowledge, and strengthens partnerships to realise this ambition in Cambodia. It enables us to channel capital into climate-positive projects, support the country’s green transition, and generate long-term value for our communities, economy, and environment.”
To ensure broader impact, the Programme will also include training modules to be jointly developed with and made available to member banks of the ABC during 2025–2026, thus promoting cross-sector collaboration and knowledge sharing.