AKP Phnom Penh, August 4, 2026 -- The Trust Regulator (TR) organised the Trust Forum 2026 under the theme "Trust in the Dynamics of Stakeholder System and Achievements over the Past Five Years" at Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel on Aug. 4.

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 Royal 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 US$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 congratulated 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.

These include 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); and accelerating digital transformation to improve governance, operational efficiency, transparency, accountability, and investor confidence.

By Chea Vannak