Chea Serey, the Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), has voiced concerns over what she described as “damaging allegations” linking Cambodia to scam centres, emphasising that such reports should not define the Kingdom’s image.
Speaking during two major forums held alongside the ASEAN Summit — the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit and the Bloomberg Business Summit at ASEAN —Serey said that while Cambodia takes the issue seriously, the narrative should not overlook the nation’s broader achievements and investment potential.
“The news on scam centres in Cambodia are concerning allegations and very damaging for the country’s image. But Cambodia cannot be summarised by this news,” she said, via social media, on October 27.
She highlighted Cambodia’s positive economic fundamentals, including a favourable investment climate, tax holidays for qualified projects, clean energy sources and the newly launched Techo International Airport, which she underscored as being “fully funded and owned by Cambodians — contrary to many headlines”.
Serey stressed that scam centres are a complex global problem, not confined to Cambodia, and require international cooperation to address effectively.
“Their operations are opaque and interconnected all over the world. Scam centres are not just in Cambodia — and so are the victims,” she said.
“To address this problem, we need cooperation, not finger-pointing,” she highlighted.
She reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to being a credible and transparent member of the international financial community, noting that the country has strengthened its Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) measures and will continue to collaborate with international authorities to combat such crimes.
From a broader perspective, she added that the rise of scam operations reflects a deeper issue — the need to improve digital literacy at a time when “the line between AI and reality becomes increasingly blurred”.
During her 30-hour visit to Kuala Lumpur, Serey also met with ASEAN business leaders and exchanged insights with global policymakers and academics, including Mark Carney, Kristalina Georgieva and Jeffrey Sachs.
Her remarks at the two business summits were part of efforts for Cambodia to engage constructively on international cooperation, defend its economic credibility and ensure the Kingdom’s story is seen beyond misleading headlines.
