GuarantCo, the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) and the Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia (CGCC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which is intended to accelerate sustainable financial inclusion and increase investment opportunities in Cambodia. The collaboration will also facilitate the scale up of CGCC’s capacity through involvement in a range of transaction types with GuarantCo and PIDG Technical Assistance (TA).
Having completed three transactions in Cambodia, GuarantCo is seeking to develop CGCC’s capital market guarantee capability via the PIDG Credit Enhancement Facility initiative. This programme aims to increase the availability of onshore local currency guarantees in target markets through partnering with local entities and utilizing products from across the PIDG Group, in this case re-guarantee facilities from GuarantCo and technical assistance from PIDG TA.
The MoU being signed is the first step towards a broader Framework Agreement, which both parties hope to close and execute later this year, covering syndication of GuarantCo guarantee exposure to CGCC and vice versa, as well as technical assistance.
The Technical Assistance programme will assist CGCC to develop key guarantee documents and engage a transaction counsel to advise on the facility documentation, as well as provide capacity building support on credit, investment and Sustainable Development Impact management processes.
Philippe Valahu CEO of PIDG, said: “Local financing solutions are an essential part of our 2030 strategy and the establishment of in-country credit enhancement facilities is a key objective to help develop local markets. Signing this Memorandum of Understanding with the Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia will help expedite this work.”
Layth Al-Falaki, CEO of GuarantCo, said: “We are proud to have signed this Memorandum of Understanding with the Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia and to be able to mobilise guarantee capacity to help CGCC expand to undertake transactions in progressive sustainable financing through the local capital markets, in line with PIDG and GuarantCo’s strategic plans. GuarantCo’s engagement in Cambodia started in 2022 through transactions with First Finance and Royal Railway followed by Cellcard in 2023. Through this MoU with CGCC, we are continuing our momentum in the country to the advantage of Cambodians who will benefit from improved infrastructure.”
Wong Keet Loong, CEO of the Credit Guarantee Corporation of Cambodia, said: “We are honoured to have the opportunity to work with GuarantCo, an established international guarantee provider, funded by seven G12 governments including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden, Australia, the Netherlands, Canada and France. CGCC will benefit from the technical expertise to embed best practices into our bond guarantee processes. We are excited with this collaboration and look forward to the structured facility which will expand our guarantee capacity.”
The signing ceremony was attended by delegates who joined virtually and in-person including Dominic Williams, the British Ambassador to Cambodia; Wong Keet Long, CEO at CGCC; Philippe Valahu, CEO at PIDG; Layth Al-Falaki, CEO at GuarantCo, Nishant Kumar, Managing Director, Asia at GuarantCo and Denesh Srishanker, Credit Enhancement Facilities Director at PIDG
