In October, the Wing Bank and Project Support Unit under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries launched a new financing initiative to empower agricultural communities in Battambang, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Thom, Prey Veng, and Takeo to invest in climate-smart technologies.

The bank committed $3 million as loans and without collateral or approval fees required at a competitive interest rate of 8.5 percent per annum and repayment terms of up to 42 months.

“As climate change is a global challenge of our time, we must equip our communities with the tools and technologies to grow sustainably, safeguard their livelihoods, and build lasting resilience,” said Dr. Dmytro Kolechko, CEO of Wing Bank, at the launch.

Eligible applicants can access loans of up to $200,000 to finance innovative solutions such as solar-powered irrigation systems, net houses, efficient water management systems, renewable energy applications, and modern farming practices. These technologies are designed to help farmers adapt to increasingly unpredictable weather conditions, improve agricultural productivity, and secure more stable incomes for their families and communities.

Farmers and agribusiness owners interested in applying for financial assistance can contact the Project Support Unit, visit any Wing Bank branch, or reach out via Wing Bank’s official Facebook page: WingBankKH, for more information.
 

Learning to be green, including finance

The market is still small, Saroeun observed, so access is limited to clients, and many commercial banks focus on large-scale renewable energy or real estate projects rather than community-based or household-level initiatives.

There is a need for stronger incentives, clearer standards, and public–private collaboration to expand green finance beyond the urban and corporate sectors, he said, adding that Cambodia can learn valuable lessons from the region.

He pointed out that Malaysia showed the importance of government-backed green bond frameworks and credit guarantees that de-risk private investments, while Indonesia demonstrated how digital finance can link smallholders with affordable green credit through fintech platforms.

Closer to home, Vietnam highlighted the role of strong coordination between central banks and line ministries in enforcing green lending guidelines. The key takeaway, he said, is that scaling green finance requires an integrated ecosystem, with regulators, banks, civil society, and local communities working together to ensure environmental and social impact, not just financial returns.

In a statement to Kiripost, EnergyLab Asia said access to capital is a significant barrier to investment in any new technology or infrastructure at scale, particularly green investments. About $11 billion is needed for Cambodia's energy transition.

While green finance is not yet a mainstream concept in Cambodia, the situation is changing quickly as it is a frontrunner in the development of carbon markets, it said, citing examples of consumer-oriented green loans by multilateral institutions and large concessional finance by the Green Climate Fund.

“There is an increasing interest from the market to adopt green financial products. But we need to make it easier to access these products, as processes are currently too long and complex. We also need to reduce the cost of adoption.”

EnergyLab Asia pointed out that green loans have a measurable environmental impact, noting that financial institutions can assess prospective green loans against qualification criteria. “These need to be robust to avoid green washing.”

It added that for green loans to be successful, the government has a number of ambitious targets for clean energy adoption, energy efficiency improvements, and increased adoption of electric vehicles.

This article was originally reported by Kiripost. Read the full story here.