PHNOM PENH – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has partnered with three Cambodian banks to launch the country’s first Climate Bank Accelerator (CBA) program, a major step toward building a greener financial sector and supporting Cambodia’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
On August 18, ADB announced that AMK Microfinance Institution, the Foreign Trade Bank of Cambodia, and Maybank Cambodia had been selected for the inaugural cohort. The three institutions were chosen for their commitment to climate finance, alignment with green banking strategies, and readiness to innovate.
The program now moves into its advisory and implementation phase, during which the banks will receive technical support to expand climate-related lending, create new green financial products, and strengthen their capacity to assess climate risks. It will also help the banks adopt greenhouse gas reporting and embed sustainability into their operations.
Jyotsana Varma, ADB Country Director for Cambodia, said the initiative reflects ADB’s long-term commitment to sustainable finance and is a key objective under its Cambodia Country Partnership Strategy 2024–2028.
She also thanked the Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC) and the National Bank of Cambodia for their support in advancing the program.
Executives of the participating banks said the collaboration would help transform Cambodia’s climate ambitions into concrete investments.
AMK CEO Kea Borann said the institution hopes to expand climate projects and assist clients with adaptation and mitigation efforts.
Foreign Trade Bank CEO Dith Sochal called the initiative an important step toward delivering low-carbon, resilient growth, while Maybank Cambodia CEO and Country Head Rath Sophoan said the program would strengthen the bank’s capacity to channel capital into climate-positive projects and support the country’s green transition.
The Association of Banks in Cambodia will provide training to the three banks, with sessions to be extended to other member institutions in 2025–2026.
The CBA program will also reinforce national initiatives, including Cambodia’s Sustainable Finance Roadmap and the implementation of the Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, both led by the National Bank of Cambodia.
