Bank in Cambodia

Cambodia NBC Urges Riel Usage to Boost National Economy

Promoting Wider Usage of the Cambodian Riel

Mr. Yim Leat, Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), called upon civil servants, citizens, and students in Pursat province to help spread the word about the importance of using the Riel. The objective is to broaden public understanding of the benefits of the national currency, thereby boosting national pride and contributing to social and economic development.

Mr. Yim Leat made these remarks during a workshop held in Pursat province on November 20, 2025, which focused on “The Riel, the Bakong System, and KHQR.”

Riel Pricing and Payments

Mr. Yim Leat explained that the National Bank of Cambodia and the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport had previously issued a joint directive to promote the use of the Riel for payments at educational institutions.

He specifically stated that all public and private educational institutions should explore the possibility of the following:

  • Opening bank accounts denominated in Riel.
  • Paying all educational staff their salaries in Riel.
  • Committing to displaying tuition fees and other service charges solely in Riel.

Participation from All Sectors

The Deputy Governor continued by appealing to all ministries and institutions, factories, companies and enterprises, banking and financial institutions, and especially the general public, to continue using the Riel more widely through:

  • Making payments for goods and services.
  • Saving.
  • Paying salaries.
  • Setting and displaying the price tags for goods and services in Riel.
  • Promoting the use of the Riel as the primary currency for accounting records.

He also called for greater favorable treatment for users of the national currency, urging stakeholders not to charge extra fees or tail-end costs for transactions made in Riel.

Policy as a Priority

Mr. Yim Leat further noted that to strengthen the Cambodian economy, the Royal Government and the National Bank of Cambodia have implemented numerous policies, among which the promotion of the Riel is a priority task. This effort has been accelerated since the early 2000s, following the stabilization of the macroeconomic situation after Cambodia achieved full peace at the end of 1998 under the Win-Win Policy. As a result, the trend of Riel usage has been steadily increasing.

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