Trust Forum 2026 Reflects on Achievements Over Past Five Years

AKP Phnom Penh, August 4, 2026

The Trust Regulator (TR) of Cambodia organised ‘Trust Forum 2026’ on August 4 at Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel, centred on the theme, “Trust in the Dynamics of Stakeholder System and Achievements over the Past Five Years".

The forum was presided over by H.E. Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance, and Chairman of the Non-Bank Financial Services Authority (NBFSA) Council.

The event showcased the significant achievements and potential of Cambodia’s trust sector and provided an important platform for the Cambodian government, regulators, the private sector, and experts to exchange perspectives and offer actionable recommendations for developing a more resilient, trusted, and sustainable trust sector.

According to the Trust Regulator, as of the second quarter of 2026, a total of 1,997 trusts had been legally established and registered, with total trust assets valued at approximately USD 2.691 billion. These comprised 1,029 real estate trusts and 837 escrow or safekeeping trusts.

The Trust Regulator has also licensed or recognised 18 trustee companies, 30 commercial banks providing escrow and safekeeping trust services, 74 individual trustees, 19 valuation companies, and 15 audit firms.

In his opening remarks, H.E. Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth reflected on Cambodia's economic growth over the past 20 years, while underlining the current context driven by external impacts, rising fuel prices, and inflationary pressures.

“Over the last two decades, Cambodia has achieved great success in poverty reduction and socioeconomic transformation by firmly maintaining political stability, social order, security, justice, equity in socioeconomic development, macroeconomic stability, and good public financial health,” said H.E. Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth. “However, while the Cambodian economy is returning to original growth trajectories and continuing to stride toward high growth following the COVID-19 crisis, rising uncertainties in geopolitics and adverse climate conditions pose significant risks. These include global economic fragmentation affecting international cooperation and trade, rising commodity and agricultural prices, uncertainty surrounding economic growth among Cambodia’s major trading partners, and climate change.”

The Deputy Prime Minister went on to congratulate the leadership and officials of the Trust Regulator on their achievements over the past five years and expressed his appreciation to relevant ministries and institutions, the private sector, and all stakeholders for their close cooperation in advancing Cambodia's trust sector.

He underlined the important role of the trust sector in promoting private-sector development, increasing domestic investment and employment, diversifying financial services, enhancing financial inclusion, preventing money laundering, and strengthening economic resilience through greater market confidence and effective risk management.

To further promote the sustainable development of the sector, the Deputy Prime Minister put forward five key recommendations:

• Formulating concrete action plans and strengthening policy implementation and evaluation; 
• Developing competent, ethical, and professional human resources;
• Ensuring high standards of compliance, corporate governance, transparency, accountability, anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), and investor protection; 
• Diversifying trust products beyond the real estate sector to support domestic enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); 
• Accelerating digital transformation to improve governance, operational efficiency, transparency, accountability, and investor confidence.