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On October 6, 2025, the Global Network Seminar was held, and the seminar welcomed Professor Phim Runsinarith from the National University of Management, Cambodia.

Under the theme “Cambodia's Development Finance Assessment,” Professor Runsinarith discussed the current landscape and changing structure of development finance in Cambodia, covering a wide range of financing sources, including domestic revenue, foreign direct investment (FDI), domestic private investment, remittances, official development assistance (ODA), climate-related funds, and NGO financing. He organized these sources within a framework of domestic and international, as well as public and private finance, and explained the roles that each source has played in Cambodia’s development.

Professor Runsinarith began by discussing domestic revenue in Cambodia, highlighting the significant role of indirect taxes and the progress made in strengthening revenue mobilization. Regarding FDI, he pointed out that both its sources and destinations remain concentrated in particular countries, regions, and sectors. He also explained that domestic private investment has generally expanded over the long term and that remittances have grown as an important source of development finance. While the overall volume of ODA has remained relatively stable, its share of gross national income has declined over time. These trends illustrate how the structure of development finance in Cambodia has evolved alongside the country’s economic development.

The lecture also examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Cambodia’s development finance. Professor Runsinarith explained that domestic revenue, FDI, domestic private investment, and remittances were all significantly affected by the pandemic. Overall development finance in 2020 was estimated to have declined by approximately 19.8% compared with a scenario without COVID-19. At the same time, he highlighted that domestic and private financing are expected to become increasingly important sources for supporting Cambodia’s future development.

In the latter part of the lecture, Professor Runsinarith discussed new approaches to development finance needed to achieve the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Innovative financing mechanisms, including public-private partnerships, impact investment, green bonds, and blended finance, were introduced. As short-term policy priorities, he highlighted strengthening tax collection capacity and institutions, expanding domestic financing instruments, supporting the recovery of FDI and domestic private investment, and maintaining social protection expenditures. Over the medium to long term, he emphasized the importance of considering new taxation measures, further utilizing blended finance, diversifying development financing sources through instruments such as green bonds, SDG bonds, and impact investment, and strengthening institutional and organizational capacity to channel private finance toward higher-quality investments.

The seminar provided participants with a valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of how Cambodia’s development financing structure is shifting from its traditional reliance on ODA toward a more diversified landscape that includes domestic revenue, private investment, remittances, and climate finance. It also provided an opportunity to consider how domestic and international private finance, together with innovative financing mechanisms, can be mobilized and effectively directed toward sustainable development and the achievement of the SDGs.