The Capacity Building Workshop on Green, Social, Sustainability, Sustainability-linked and Transition Bonds

The Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC) and International Finance Corporation (IFC), July 8, 2025, co-organised a capacity building workshop on “Green, Social, Sustainability, Sustainability-linked and Transition Bonds (GSS+ Bonds)” to support the transition finance process and GSS+ bond issuance.

The event was held at the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh under the presidency of H.E. Sou Socheat, Delegate of the Royal Government in charge as Director General of the SERC, and Towfiqua Hoque, Country Resident Representative of IFC in Cambodia.

With attendees from government institutions, associations, and the private sector — including banking, insurance, law firms, amongst others — the workshop provided basic knowledge and practical tools to financial institutions and corporations to support the transition finance process and GSS+ bond issuance by promoting knowledge and strengthening capacity in sustainability-linked or transition bond issuance.

The workshop aims to enable potential issuers to access new sources of funding, enhance their reputation and financial standing, as well as have a positive impact on the environment.

In this workshop, H.E. Delegate stated that the path towards a sustainable securities market in Cambodia will require continued collaboration across public and private sectors, development partners, and market participants.

He further stated:

As the regulator, the SERC stands ready to support this transition by providing guidance, strengthening oversight, and working closely with stakeholders to uphold market integrity and investor confidence. In addition, through targeted capacity-building initiatives, we aim to equip market participants with the technical skills, practical tools, and confidence needed to identify and issue credible sustainable bond instruments. This will not only open up new funding opportunities and enhance your market reputation but also strengthen Cambodia’s sustainable finance ecosystem and accelerate the transition to a robust and sustainable economy.

Towfiqua Hoque said:

“As Cambodia accelerates its transition toward a more resilient and sustainable future, capital markets play a pivotal role in financing green and sustainable economic development, with thematic bonds emerging as powerful instruments to attract local and international investors in the country. IFC is dedicated to fostering Cambodia's capital market development and sustainability transition by strengthening the financial system and equipping market participants with technical expertise and providing practical knowledge to unlock the opportunity in building a green and inclusive economy”.

The event was joined by expert speakers with extensive experience in GSS+ bonds — from the Ministry of Environment, National Bank of Cambodia, SERC, IFC, Moody’s, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), RHB Securities (Cambodia), and Prudential (Cambodia) Life Assurance, along with a total of 120 attendees.