Phnom Penh, June 26, 2025 — Cambodia marked its 2nd National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day under the theme “MSMEs Readiness for LDC Graduation,” with a call to action for standards, compliance, innovation and productivity to position Cambodian MSMEs for success beyond 2029.

The event was presided over by H.E. Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance, esteemed representative of Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei HUN MANET, and gathered various entrepreneurs, policymakers, business leaders, and development partners.

Organized by the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI) in collaboration with Khmer Enterprise, GIZ, UNIDO, SME Bank, relevant Ministries-Institutions and the private sector, the celebration featured an MSME product exhibition, panel discussions, and a special “PackTalk” forum.

“MSMEs have actively contributed and will have a more critical and key role in Cambodia’s journey towards LDC graduation by the end of 2029,” according to the congratulatory message of Samdech Thipadei delivered during the event by Miniser Hem Vanndy.

The message further highlighted that MSMEs are increasingly integrated into formal financial systems—with over 1.5 million self-employed individuals now using QR code-based accounts and over 820,000 MSME owners accessing credit, accounting for more than a third of total loans in the banking sector.

“A vast number of economic units in Cambodia are MSMEs. They serve as a vital backbone of the the society and economy and play a significant role in job creation, income generation, poverty reduction, and the promotion of sustainable, inclusive and resilent development.” H.E. Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth stated in his keynote address.

Cambodia has continued to attract foreign direct investment, with high growth in the industrial sector forecasted at about 7.8% in 2025. This trend has opened up new opportunities for MSMEs to contribute to economic diversification, integrate into supply chains that increasingly demand local inputs, and enhance value addition.

According to the 2022 Economic Census, Cambodia has over 753,000 MSMEs, employing nearly 3 million people, 60% of whom are women. The sector contributes 63% of national GDP and remains central to Cambodia’s ambitions to create a more diversified, innovation-driven economy.

By: The Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation