Cambodia Country Summary

FATF Status

Cambodia is no longer on the FATF List of Countries that have been identified as having strategic AML deficiencies.

Latest FATF Statement - 24 February 2023

The FATF welcomes Cambodia’s significant progress in improving its AML/CFT regime. Cambodia has strengthened the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime to meet the commitments in its action plan regarding the strategic deficiencies that the FATF identified in February 2019 related to improvements in the legal framework for international cooperation and preventive measures, risk-based supervision of FIs and DNFBPs, improving the quality and quantity of FIU disseminations, increasing and improving investigation and prosecution of ML and asset confiscation and establishing and implementing a legal framework for PF TFS. Cambodia is therefore no longer subject to the FATF’s increased monitoring process.

Cambodia should continue to work with APG to sustain its improvements in its AML/CFT system.

European Commission List of Countries with Strategic Deficiencies in their AML/CFT Regimes

Cambodia is no longer on the EU Commission list of High Risk jurisdictions which have been identified as having strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regimes that pose significant threats to the financial system of the European Union (‘high-risk third countries’).

Compliance with FATF Recommendations

The last follow-up Mutual Evaluation relating to the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards in Cambodia was undertaken in 2023. According to that Evaluation, Cambodia was deemed Compliant for 2 and Largely Compliant for 31 of the FATF 40 Recommendations. It remains Highly Effective for 0 and Substantially Effective for 1 of the Effectiveness & Technical Compliance ratings.

Corruption in Cambodia is pervasive, significantly deterring foreign investment, particularly due to issues within the judiciary, customs, and tax authorities. Despite the implementation of the Anti-Corruption Law in 2010 and the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), enforcement remains weak, with businesses often resorting to informal payments to facilitate transactions. Although the ACU has made some progress in prosecuting corrupt officials and promoting anti-corruption practices among private companies, the overall climate remains challenging for ethical business operations.

Cambodia's economy experienced a growth of 5.4 percent in GDP in 2023, with a projected increase to 5.8 percent in 2024, driven primarily by the recovery of the tourism and manufacturing sectors. Despite various foreign investment incentives, the country has struggled to attract significant U.S. investment due to challenges such as corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of skilled labor, although Chinese foreign direct investment has surged, accounting for approximately 90 percent of total FDI inflows.

Cambodia has a liberal investment climate, offering various incentives for foreign direct investment (FDI) such as 100 percent foreign ownership, tax holidays, and duty-free imports of capital goods. However, challenges such as systemic corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and a limited supply of skilled labor deter significant U.S. investment compared to regional neighbors. Despite these issues, the country has seen substantial Chinese FDI, particularly in infrastructure projects, which accounted for approximately 90 percent of total FDI inflows in 2023.