JICA Ogata Research Institute Co-Organizes Symposium to Promote Evidence-Based Policy Making in Cambodia

On March 28, 2025, the JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development (JICA Ogata Research Institute), in collaboration with the Trade Policy Advisory Board (TPAB), the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), and the Economic Society of Cambodia (ESC), held a joint symposium under the theme “Cambodia’s Economic Development and Economic Policy: Opportunities and Challenges” at the Institute of Banking Studies in Phnom Penh.

The symposium attracted a broad range of participants from government ministries, international organizations, academia, development banks, and the private sector. Approximately 200 participants attended, including Mey Kalyan, Senior Advisor to the Supreme National Economic Council; Khou Vouthy, Assistant Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia; Miura Yoshiko, Senior Representative of JICA Cambodia; and Norn Samnangseymony, Secretary-General of ESC. Representatives from the Office of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, General Department of Taxation, the Embassy of Japan, universities, and youth associations were also present, showcasing the inclusive nature of the event.

In his opening remarks, Sok Siphana, Senior Minister in charge of Special Missions, Chairman of TPAB, and Founding Chairman of ESC, emphasized the importance of creating a platform for presenting and sharing studies and research, stimulating meaningful discussion, and addressing contemporary policy issues that will shape Cambodia’s future economic trajectory. He acknowledged Japan’s significant contributions to Cambodia’s development and underlined the importance of strong bilateral ties between the two countries. The symposium marked another step forward in JICA’s commitment to promoting inclusive, evidence-based policy dialogue and capacity development in Cambodia.

The symposium featured three key research presentations. Aiba Daiju , Visiting Fellow at the JICA Ogata Research Institute and Resident Expert at the NBC, presented findings from a comprehensive study on financial inclusion in Cambodia, which included the analysis of over 5,300 microfinance debt disbursements between 2017 and 2021, and an experimental study on financial education program that has adopted the Japanese traditional financial management method “Kakeibo.” His research shows that impact investors tended to support MFIs with higher outreach and maintained their investments during the COVID-19 crisis, unlike typical private investors. Furthermore, he noted the previous study found a positive impact from the use of Kakeibo in the financial education program. Aiba further suggested that the rigorous research is useful and potentially impactful for economic policy and expressed his hope that research activities will be further facilitated in the economic research community.

Following Aiba’s presentation, Oum Sothea, Senior Policy Advisor at CAPRED and TPAB Expert Group member, addressed the participants on how to build capacities for SMEs to take advantage of trade agreements. Cheng Oudom, an economist at the NBC, then presented research on Cambodia’s monetary policy transmission mechanisms. The research presented by Oudom is also part of the outcomes of the ongoing JICA technical cooperation project with the NBC titled “Capacity Development for Economic Analysis, Research, and Operations in Support of Cambodia’s Monetary Policy.”

The research presentations were followed by a panel discussion on “Cambodia Macroeconomic Overview toward LDC Graduation,” which featured Bun Neary, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Taxation; Phon Sophat, Chief Learning Officer at the Institute for Banking Studies; Cheng Savuth, Director of the Department of International Economics at IISPP; and Mon Srey Leak, Senior Economist at the NBC. The panel was moderated by Samreth Sovannroeun , Visiting Fellow at the JICA Ogata Research Institute. In the panel discussion, the panelists addressed such questions as “how can Cambodia further strengthen domestic resource mobilization through tax policy and administration in preparation for its post-LDC graduation,” “how well are Cambodia’s current monetary and financial stability policies equipped to address the changes that will come after graduating from LDC status,” “what are the main international economic impacts of LDC graduation,” and “how should Cambodia position itself in global value chains going forward?”

In his closing remarks, Hout Pum, Secretary of State at the Office of the Council of Ministers and Board Member of ESC, reflected on the importance of continued research collaboration and cross-institutional dialogue. This symposium marked an important step in JICA’s efforts to promote inclusive and evidence-based policy dialogue and capacity development in Cambodia.

The symposium was also featured in several local newspapers: