Green Finance Network (GFN) Cambodia Holds Inaugural Meeting to Unlock Investment in Green Buildings

Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 31 July 2026 – The Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) convened the inaugural meeting of the Green Finance Network (GFN) Cambodia under the Asia Low Carbon Buildings Transition (ALCBT) Project, bringing together around 50 representatives from the financial sector.

GFN Cambodia is a network of financial institutions established within ABC’s Sustainability Committee to mobilize investment for low-carbon buildings. Its work is organized around four pillars: capital mobilization, development of an enabling policy environment, coordination among financial institutions and regulators, and project-pipeline development. The Network is chaired by the ABC SC Chairman, with ABC-member financial institutions as members. The ALCBT Cambodia team will serve as the Secretariat, coordinating activities in close collaboration with ABC through August 2028. (For more on GFN Cambodia’s mandate and structure, download the GFN Cambodia Factsheet.)

The meeting opened with remarks from Mrs. Nathalie Andre, Country Representative of GGGI Cambodia, and Mr. Dith Sochal, ABC Council Member and Chairman of the ABC’s Sustainability Committee.

Ms. Nathalie André, Country Representative of GGGI Cambodia, said: “Cambodia’s transition to low-carbon buildings will require strong collaboration between the government, financial institutions, building owners, and technical partners. Through GFN Cambodia, we are creating a practical platform to transform identified energy-saving opportunities into bankable projects.”

Mr. Dith Sochal, ABC Council Member and Chairman of the ABC’s Sustainability Committee said: “This platform comes at a timely moment as ABC continues to support its member banks and financial institutions in expanding their green finance portfolios. It aligns directly with the Cambodia Sustainable Finance Principles (CSFP) and the NBC’s Sustainable Finance Taxonomy for the Cambodian Banking Sector.”

Addressing Cambodia’s Green Financing Gap

Cambodia’s building sector accounts for more than 52% of national electricity consumption. Commercial floor area is projected to approximately double by 2030, potentially doubling commercial electricity demand in the absence of energy efficiency measures.

At the same time, the country’s enabling environment for green investment is taking shape. The National Bank of Cambodia’s Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, issued in April 2026, identifies buildings and construction as a priority sector and establishes clear green and transition thresholds. This complements the National Energy Efficiency Policy and the national climate targets in Cambodia’s NDC 3.0.

ALCBT GFN Cambodia is an industry-led platform that connects growing financing needs with this policy momentum.. The Network’s 2026–2028 workplan covers stakeholder engagement, capacity building, knowledge exchange, and development of financing products, including a proposed Green Building Facility. These activities will contribute to the goal of mobilizing EUR 20 million in green building investment in Cambodia.

Turning Building Assessments into a Bankable Pipeline

GGGI presented findings from ALCBT’s deep-dive energy assessments of 250 buildings across Phnom Penh and Kandal. The assessments identified 12 energy conservation measures spanning heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting, control systems, building envelopes, and renewable energy. The identified measures offer energy-saving potential of up to 60% and represent more than USD 10 million in investment opportunities, highlighting a growing pipeline of bankable projects that GFN members could support.

To help convert this pipeline into financeable transactions, ALCBT offers eligible building owners and FIs, at no cost, an investment-grade energy audit, a financial model aligned with green finance requirements, green building certification support, and direct linkage to banks and energy service providers.

Regional Linkage through ASEAN BUILT

ACE introduced ASEAN BUILT (Building Investment for Low-Carbon Transition), launched in October 2025 at the 25th ASEAN Energy Business Forum in Kuala Lumpur. The platform, developed through the ALCBT project, serves as a regional one-stop-shop connecting low-carbon building projects with financing across Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its features include a project database, a low-carbon calculator, investment-matchmaking, and knowledge hub.

Through GFN Cambodia, ABC members will gain facilitated access to the platform, regional events, and cross-border investment opportunities.

The meeting closed with a plenary discussion and closing remarks from Mr. Dith Sochal. Participants agreed on the next steps, including developing a Memorandum of Understanding between GGGI and ABC, rolling out training on low-carbon buildings and the building taxonomy, and continuing technical assistance to develop a pipeline of bankable projects.