Amret Cambodia development loan

completed

The project aims to expand AMRET's business activities in the area of financing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Cambodia, particularly in rural areas. The MSME segment comprises 99% of all companies operating in Cambodia and 73% of all employees. However, less than half of them have a bank account. Although the financial sector in Cambodia has developed well in recent years, access to financial services is still limited. This hampers companies' development. Thanks to the 10 million USD FC development loan from KfW Development Bank, AMRET can now provide more microcredits to MSMEs, which can use this financing for urgently needed investments and thus increase their competitiveness. Significant positive employment effects are also expected from this. AMRET was founded in 1991 by the French non-governmental organization GRET and is now one of the three most important microfinance banks in Cambodia. As part of the Advans network of microfinance banks, in which KfW is involved, it benefits from good institutional framework conditions and is characterized by transparent and customer-oriented lending under high social standards. AMRET's business model, which is aimed at disadvantaged customer groups, is particularly relevant for the inclusion of the rural and semi-urban population in the provision of financial services. It also has the potential to have a regional impact through knowledge transfer, role model character and expansion into neighboring markets.