Technology

Cambodia’s Banking Evolution: Trust and Innovation at the Forefront

Published

1 year ago

March 25, 2025

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In a rapidly changing financial landscape, Cambodia’s banking sector is emerging as a beacon of trust and innovation. Through significant advancements in digital banking, stringent cybersecurity measures, and transparent regulatory frameworks, the nation is positioning itself as a leader in ethical banking practices.

Digital Banking Surge Enhances Financial Inclusion

Recent data from the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) reveals a notable shift towards mobile banking. In 2024, over 608 million transactions and payments, an increase of 334% from 2023, were made through the Bakong Payment System with the total value of 183 trillion KHR or 457 billion USD, a 127% increase from 2023. This trend underscores a growing consumer preference for accessible and user-friendly mobile platforms, reflecting its widespread adoption. NBC’s Bakong System has been instrumental in this digital transformation. By integrating e-wallets, mobile payments, and online banking into a single platform, Bakong has simplified transactions and broadened financial access, particularly in rural areas.

“Digital payments are transforming financial inclusion in Cambodia, especially for underserved communities. By using mobile banking and platforms like the Bakong system, we are making financial services more accessible, affordable, and secure—particularly for those in rural areas,” said Ms. Dith Nita, Chairwoman of the Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA).

Strengthening Cybersecurity and Regulatory Transparency

To maintain financial stability amid rapid digitalization, Cambodia’s banking sector has prioritized cybersecurity and transparent regulatory practices. The Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC), together with the Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA) has been proactive in promoting consumer protection, financial literacy, and industry-wide cybersecurity initiatives, thereby fostering a stable and resilient financial environment.

In a significant regulatory development, NBC has introduced a framework that uses blockchain technology, providing clear guidelines to encourage innovation in digital finance while safeguarding financial stability. This move not only positions Cambodia as a responsible player in the global financial ecosystem but also attracts fintech firms seeking a regulated yet flexible environment for growth.

Commitment to Ethical Banking Practices

Cambodia’s financial institutions are dedicated to ethical banking, emphasizing responsible lending and financial inclusion. The NBC-UN Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on Microfinance, held in January 2025, highlighted key reforms such as prohibiting the use of Indigenous Communal Land Titles (ICLTs) as collateral and establishing a Financial Consumer Centre under the ABC and the Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA) to assist borrowers in financial distress. These measures underscore the sector’s commitment to ethical practices and consumer protection.

ABC Chairman Rath Sophoan said, “As responsible providers, we are committed to ensuring financial access while contributing positively to the well-being of the population, always upholding the principles of transparency, fairness, and social responsibility.”

A Model for Regional Banking Excellence

With secure digital platforms, clear regulatory frameworks, and a steadfast commitment to ethical practices, Cambodia’s banking sector is setting a high standard in the region. As global investors seek stability and transparency, Cambodia is proving itself as a reliable and innovative financial hub.

By balancing technological advancement with ethical banking, Cambodia’s financial institutions are fostering long-term trust, ensuring the country remains a key player in Southeast Asia’s financial landscape—ready for the future, yet firmly grounded in stability.

For further details please contact:
ABC Secretariat
Mr. Sok Chan, Head of Financial Inclusion and Public Relations
Email: abc_fi@abc.org.kh
Phone: +855 92 683 330

CMA Secretariat
Mr. Tongngy Kaing, Head of Communications
Email: hcd@cma-network.org
Phone: +855 95 262 111

About ABC

The Association of Banks in Cambodia was formed in 1994 and is recognized by the Royal Government as the official organization to represent the country’s private banking sector. Our purpose is to promote constructive dialogue amongst member banks, and to serve as an industry voice to the public and the Government.

About CMA

The Cambodia Microfinance Association is an NGO and professional association that aims to ensure the prosperity and sustainability of the microfinance sector in Cambodia. CMA plays a vital role in creating local and international networks as well as seeking equity and loan funds, new technologies and overseeing conflict resolution between microfinance operators. All of these activities have led each member microfinance institution to become stronger and more successful and thereby attract support from the international market to enable industry expansion.

For media inquiries:
TWPR
Ms. Pheng Kim Hoan, Managing Director
Email: kim@twowaypr.com
Phone: +855 10 455 466

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SOURCE The Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC)

Technology

Hexagon Composites ASA: Eirik Løhre appointed permanent CFO

Published

38 minutes ago

May 5, 2026

OSLO, Norway, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement dated 11 November 2025, where Eirik Løhre was appointed interim CFO in Hexagon Composites.

The Company is pleased to inform that Eirik Løhre has been appointed permanently to the role of CFO in Hexagon Composites, effective today.

Eirik Løhre has been with the Company since 2021 and prior to his role as interim CFO, he served as EVP Corporate Development on the Executive Team.

“Eirik has demonstrated strong financial leadership and execution, and he has been instrumental in strengthening our financial performance. I look forward to continuing our work together to develop and position Hexagon in this next phase of growth,” said Philipp Schramm, CEO, Hexagon Composites.

For more information:
Berit-Cathrin Høyvik, Senior Director, Communications, Hexagon Composites
Tel: +47 988 92 161, berit-cathrin.hoyvik@hexagongroup.com

About Hexagon Composites ASA
Hexagon delivers safe and innovative solutions for a cleaner energy future. Our solutions enable storage, transportation and conversion to clean energy in a wide range of mobility and industrial applications. Learn more at www.hexagongroup.com and follow @HexagonASA on LinkedIn.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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Technology

LONGPORT Whale Enters Malaysian Market with Next Generation Trading Infrastructure for Local Brokerages

Published

38 minutes ago

May 5, 2026

LONGPORT Whale, with proven track record across 100+ institutional clients in Asia, makes its Malaysia debut at Bursa Malaysia Stockbroking Trade Fair 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LONGPORT Whale, a provider of AI-Ready securities trading infrastructure, is making its entry into the Malaysian market at the Bursa Malaysia Stockbroking Trade Fair 2026. The move comes as Malaysia’s Capital Market Masterplan 2026–2030 (CMP4) continues to hone in on local brokerages to modernise core systems, balancing investor experience, regulatory compliance, and operational resilience simultaneously.

Malaysian brokerages are increasingly confronted by a challenge that goes beyond front-end upgrades. Legacy architectures struggle to keep pace with digital-native investor expectations, rising cybersecurity standards, and the demand for multi-market expansion simultaneously. For many such brokerages, the question is no longer whether to modernize, but how to do so without adding complexity or disrupting the business continuity that clients depend on.

Zhong Hua, CEO, LONGPORT Whale, said, “Core trading infrastructure must support continuous evolution — in investor experience, compliance, and AI readiness — without adding unnecessary complexity. The brokerages that lead the next decade won’t be the ones with the best system today; they’ll be the ones whose systems are designed to keep getting better. LONGPORT Whale aims to bring its Asia-proven experience to help Malaysian brokers strike that balance.”

Built on a cloud-native microservices architecture and trusted by more than 100 institutional clients in Asia, Whale’s platform is engineered by industry professionals and refined through years of first-hand operational experience. For the Malaysian market, it addresses four priorities: a best-in-class trading experience validated across competitive, highly regulated markets in Asia; system resilience and performance built for institutional scale, with high system performance and output, real time risk management, and low system latency; global market connectivity spanning Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, US, and Japan without requiring system rebuilds; and an API-first, data-unified architecture that gives brokerages a practical foundation for AI adoption.

Hong Kong SAR and Singapore, where Whale serves online brokers, traditional banking firms, banks and wealth management institutes in a stringent regulatory environment, serve as the primary reference market for its Malaysia expansion. The company said it aims to work with local industry participants as both an infrastructure partner and a contributor to broader conversation on responsible modernization under CMP4.

About LONGPORT Whale

LONGPORT Whale provides integrated securities trading infrastructure to brokers, banks, fund houses, wealth managers, and family offices across Asia. Its cloud-native platform supports multi-market, multi-asset trading across front-, middle-, and back-office workflows, with a deployment model designed for regulatory alignment and long-term scalability. Website: www.longportwhale.com

Media Contact
LONGPORT Whale PR Team
Email: media@longportwhale.com

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SOURCE LONGPORT Whale

Technology

Thunes and Vodacom Tanzania Unite to Power Cross-Border M-Pesa Payments Across China and Uganda

Published

38 minutes ago

May 5, 2026

Collaboration revolutionises trade & financial convenience for Tanzanian merchants and consumers

SINGAPORE, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Thunes, the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world, has joined forces with Vodacom Tanzania, the country’s leading telco company, to transform cross-border trade and digital financial inclusion with Vodacom’s new M-Pesa Global Payment solution. Thanks to the collaboration, Vodacom customers in Tanzania can now seamlessly pay merchants in Uganda and China directly from their mobile phones.

This milestone solution responds to growing demand from Tanzanian traders who engage in commerce with Ugandan and Chinese markets but often face challenges with costly, slow, and insecure payment methods. With this innovation, leveraging the Thunes Direct Global Network, Vodacom aims to bridge those gaps, offering secure, real-time digital payments across borders and reinforcing its leadership in mobile money innovation in Africa.

The solution supports trade with two key markets for Tanzania. For eight consecutive years, China has been Tanzania’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade hitting $8.8 billion in 2024. In the same year, bilateral trade between Tanzania and Uganda reached approximately $2.23 billion, an increase of 64% on the previous year.

Epimack Mbeteni, M-Pesa Director at Vodacom Tanzania said: “This is more than just a payment feature, it is a catalyst for economic empowerment and a gateway for small and medium businesses and entrepreneurs in Tanzania to compete and thrive in regional and global markets. Through Thunes’ expansive and trusted Network we are enabling seamless, secure, and affordable cross-border payments that empower people, fuel trade and place M-Pesa at the center of Africa’s digital commerce future.”

Through Thunes’ Direct Global Network, customers can now send payments to merchants in Uganda using MTN MoMo and to Chinese merchants through the Alipay network, all through the M-Pesa USSD menu or the M-Pesa Super App. The process is secure, user-friendly, and eliminates the burden of traditional banking barriers for everyday traders and businesses.

Dawei Wang, SVP Network at Thunes, added: “Vodacom Tanzania joining the Thunes Direct Global Network to digitise cross-border payments is a game changer for local businesses. By combining Vodacom’s technology with Thunes’ trusted and proprietary Network, Tanzanian customers can pay partners in China and Uganda in real time. This innovation accelerates interoperability along with international trade and business growth and supports our vision of connecting the next billion end users to the global economy.”

This initiative stands as a strategic enabler for consumers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) who need reliable and quick financial tools such as mobile money. A 2025 GeoPoll survey on Tanzania Financial Services and Usage found that 94% of the survey’s respondents use mobile money.

The Thunes and Vodacom Tanzania alliance is set to transform the lives of millions of consumers by dismantling cross-border barriers. By hyper-connecting Tanzania to global powerhouses like China and streamlining intra-African trade, the collaboration is helping to build an inclusive economy and grow Tanzania’s role as a force in the global market.

About Vodacom Tanzania

For more information, visit: https://www.vodacom.co.tz/

About Thunes

For more information, visit: https://www.thunes.com/

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