June 9, 2014
On June 2, JICA-RI and the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) co-hosted a public seminar entitled “Cambodia’s Monetary Policy: Dollarization, Managing National Currency Supply and Exchange Rate Stability” at JICA Ichigaya.
![]() |
Dr.Khou |
Dr. Khou Vouthy, Director of Economic Research and International Cooperation Department of NBC, gave a presentation on the theme of “Cambodia’s Monetary Policy: Dollarization, Managing National Currency Supply and Exchange Rate Stability.”
First, Dr. Khou introduced several indicators that represent Cambodia’s stable economy—continuously growing GDP per capita, an annual average economic growth rate of 8%, the inflation rate being kept at a low level, and the stable exchange rate. Despite her relatively stable macroeconomic environment, Cambodia has experienced dollarization for the last decades. He explained the historical background as follows: The civil war started in the early 1970s, which followed by the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1980, where the currency and banking systems were entirely abolished; When the civil war ended in 1980, the home currency was reintroduced but was not widely accepted as people had lost confidence in the currency; From 1991 to 1992, large quantities of US dollars were brought into Cambodia from overseas, particularly through activities of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia. As a result, US dollars started to be used in various economic transactions in the country. Dr. Khou introduced a survey result on the currencies in circulation in Cambodia that he had conducted in 2010. He explained that an extreme dollarization has been prevalent in the urban areas including Phnom Penh and tourist sites as well as in sectors such as garment industry, tourism, and NGOs. On the contrary, economic transactions based on Riel have been widespread in local areas and in sectors such as agriculture, construction and the public sector.
![]() |
Prof. Okuda |
In response to Dr. Khou’s presentation, Professor Hidenobu Okuda of Hitotsubashi University, a member of the collaborative project, commented on the important factors in effective de-dollarization: the stabilization of the exchange rate; a gradual shift in de-dollarization; and rebuilding confidence in the national currency.
MOVIE COMMENTARY
Khou Vouthy
Director of the Economic Research and International Cooperation (ERIC), National Bank of Cambodia
Day | June 02, 2014(Mon) |
---|---|
Place | JICA Ichigaya Building |