SM Global Group – a South Korean company based in Cambodia offering a variety of services in accounting, consulting, trusts, investment, appraisal, and more – hosted an event to officially launch the SM Global Venture Centre, share the company’s ‘Vision 2035’, and formalise key partnerships with Sathapana Bank and Realestate.com.kh, on February 13, 2025, at the Oakwood Premier Phnom Penh.
The event was presided over by H.E. Ney Sakal, Deputy Director General of the Trust Regulator, Yang Sung Mo, Chairman of SM Global Group, and Jung Myung-Kyu, President of the Korean Association in Cambodia, with other senior members of SM Global Group and representatives of partner companies in attendance.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Ney Sakal shared that as of February 13, 2025, the trust regulator registered 1,161 trusts with a total trust asset value of USD 1.794 billion. Commercial trusts lead the way with 1,140 cases (USD 1.299 billion), followed by:
- Real estate trusts: 780 cases at a total value of USD 764.5 million
- Escrow services: 287 cases at a total value of USD 391.9 million
- Fixed deposits: 34 cases at a total value of USD 11.6 million
- Pension funds: 32 cases at a total value of USD 37.9 million
- Financial trusts: 9 cases at a total value USD 369 million
- Public trusts: 3 cases at a total value of USD 121.6 million.
The Deputy Director General added that among the 1,161 registered trust cases, 60 trusts were established by South Korean investors, amounting to a total trust asset value of USD 27.7 million.
“The trust sector allows investors to strategically manage investments through professional trust managers, rather than engaging in direct investment or areas where they lack expertise. This mechanism enables foreign investors, including many from South Korea, to confidently invest in Cambodia with professional trust services ensuring proper management and risk mitigation. As a result, the trust sector enhances investor confidence, strengthens financial stability, and fosters a more robust investment climate,” he said.
He further noted the role SM Global Trust & Investment Management Co., Ltd. – SM Global Group’s trust division – plays in helping to promote the trust sector in Cambodia:
The Grand Opening Ceremony of SM Global Trust & Investment Management Co., Ltd. and the MOU Signing Ceremony with Sathapana Bank Plc. and Realestate.com.kh demonstrate the ongoing development of the trust sector in Cambodia. SM Global Trust & Investment Management Co., Ltd. will play an essential role in promoting trust services and raising awareness of this sector in Cambodia.
Strategic Partnerships With Sathapana Bank And Realestate.com.kh
SM Global Group signed two MOUs with Sathapana Bank and Realestate.com.kh centred on raising financial education and awareness, including on trusts.
Arvid Swartsenburg, Deputy CEO of Sathapana Bank, stressed that Sathapana prioritises a “one bank approach”, providing as many financial services under one roof to its customers. Partnering with SM Global Group – which offers an array of services in accounting, consulting, trusts, investment, appraisal and more – supports the bank in achieving this approach by extending SM Global Group’s services to Sathapana’s clients.
“Strategic partnerships are crucial for us to provide a full spectrum of services, sometimes things we cannot provide as a bank… so we like to extend them through MOUs like this to provide the full capabilities and services to our clients, provide, really, an end-to-end solution so they don't have to go and run around to find solutions and figure out how to get it done themselves,” said Swartsenburg.
“For international investors, it is very convenient to use Sathapana Bank and [through this MOU] SM Global’s clients can get special rates for international transactions and also for their service charges,” added Paul Yang, Director of SM Global Group.
Yang also told B2B Cambodia about the educational seminars SM Global plans to host in collaboration with Sathapana Bank:
These seminars will focus on trusts, accounting and taxes… and will be held regularly at Sathapana Bank… What we are planning is to hold them in Khmer, Korean, English, and some in other languages as well, so international clients of Sathapana Bank can receive more information… and important updates regarding taxes and investment in Cambodia.
The MOU signed with Realestate.com.kh similarly pertains to education and client cross-referrals.
“With Realestate.com.kh, we started working together since the middle of 2024, and we discussed a lot about how we can educate agents and investors,” said Yang. “So as a trust company, SM Global can provide information about trusts and help to educate agents so they can provide the correct information to investors.”
He added:
This will be our starting point, but next, Realestate.com.kh is also preparing its ‘Connect Alliance’, which will include all trustworthy companies [in Cambodia]. Realestate.com.kh will provide real estate-related information and the services, while SM Global will provide trust services, accounting services or external services. We trust each other and our clients can also trust all the companies within the ‘Connect Alliance’.
“This partnership is focused on empowering the market through collaboration, by bringing together every stakeholder and fostering an environment of efficiency, trust and sustainability,” shared Tom O’ Sullivan, CEO of Realestate.com.kh “Together, we are building an ecosystem of professional real estate services, from sourcing the perfect property to structuring deals with legal and tax guidance to ensure seamless management and ultimately facilitate ongoing success.”
SM Global Group’s Vision 2035
Sharing the company’s broad goals and vision for the next 10 years, Yang detailed various plans across SM Global’s accounting, consulting, trust & investment and appraisal & real estate divisions, which include:
- Preparing educational and informational content in collaboration with official media partner, B2B Cambodia;
- Forming strategic partnerships with foreign consulting firms that cover markets in Dubai, India, Thailand Singapore and Myanmar to assist foreign companies from those countries to enter the Cambodian market;
- As detailed earlier, partnering with local market leaders like Sathapana Bank and Realestate.com.kh
SM Global Group also formally commemorated the launch of the ‘SM Global Venture Centre’ to help support start-ups and companies entering the Cambodian market.
“One of the biggest challenges for new entrants is understanding local regulations, government relations, and business practices. To overcome this, the Venture Centre offers tailored programs, including corporate establishment support, settlement assistance, license acquisition, marketing, and business strategy development,” Yang explained.
Furthermore, the company also prioritises social responsibility activities through SM Global Foundation, with a primary focus placed on supporting education for Cambodian students. For instance, through the Chungbuk Global Fe, SM Global Foundation helps introduces Cambodian students to Korean culture and language, while providing opportunities for studying abroad in Korea.
“Furthermore, we recognise the challenges in Cambodia’s healthcare sector, and moving forward, we aim to contribute to providing quality medical services for underprivileged communities,” Yang added.
Watch a snippet of Paul Yang's interview discussing SM Global Group's 'Vision 2035':
Over the next 10 years, SM Global strives to achieve “continuous innovation and collaboration” to “create new value for Cambodia in the global market”, with a pledge to act as a platform for growth alongside its customers.
“Our mission for the next decade is simple but powerful: deliver the highest-quality services alongside our partners, support economic growth, and create meaningful change across the world,” Yang concluded.
