NBC eyes 3.9% growth for Cambodia despite global headwinds

NBC eyes 3.9% growth for Cambodia despite global headwinds

Serey credits the nation’s economic resilience to the Royal Government’s unwavering commitment to peace, security, and political and macroeconomic stability.

The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) yesterday released its latest economic outlook, projecting a 3.9 percent growth rate for the Kingdom in 2026.

Central bank officials stated that the upcoming expansion underscores Cambodia’s core macroeconomic resilience.

The positive trajectory comes despite persistent domestic challenges and a volatile global market environment.

According to the NBC, Cambodia’s economy expanded by an estimated 3.5 percent during the first half of 2026, weighed down by global economic headwinds and several domestic factors.

However, it expects growth to accelerate to 4.3 percent in the second half of the year, driven by stronger exports of garments, non-garment manufactured goods, and agricultural products, as well as continued inflows of foreign direct investment.

“The fact that Cambodia is expected to achieve economic growth of between 3 percent and 4 percent demonstrates the resilience of the Cambodian economy in the face of crises,” said Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia Chea Serey at a meeting to review works in the first half of 2026 and set objectives in the second half of 2026, yesterday.

She noted that Cambodia, like many countries, has been affected by the uncertain global economic environment.

Domestically, the country has also faced challenges, including the prolonged border tensions with Thailand, the government’s campaign to combat cyber fraud, and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The latest NBC forecast comes after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revised Cambodia’s 2026 growth projection to 3.0 percent following its Article IV consultation.

Meanwhile, other international institutions, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), have maintained their growth forecasts at around 4.2 percent.

NBC Governor attributed Cambodia’s economic resilience to the Royal Government’s continued efforts to preserve peace, security, political stability, and macroeconomic stability.

She added that the government’s ongoing structural reforms, particularly those aimed at economic diversification under the first phase of the Pentagonal Strategy, have strengthened the country’s ability to withstand external shocks while laying the foundation for sustainable long-term growth.

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