ABA contributes to Khmer Enterprise’s Investment Readiness Program to support SMEs in Cambodia
02/Feb/2022
ABA Bank, Cambodia’s leading commercial bank in digital finances, becomes a sponsor of the Khmer Enterprise Investment Readiness Program initiated by Khmer Enterprise (KE), a unit under the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), in charge of implementing support programs for startups and SMEs in Cambodia.
Following its Corporate Values, ABA is committed to aiding local communities and contributing positively to Cambodia and its people. The Bank is pleased to donate $5,000 to the program, designed to help high-potential SMEs from any sector be ready to secure the necessary capital for scaling up their businesses through practical training, coaching, and consulting.
Managed by OBOR, the program will train 25 participating SMEs in phases, and at the end of the program’s final phase, the five most promising participants will receive cash rewards for their business operations and expenses.
Igor Zimarev, Chief Marketing Officer at ABA Bank, commented, “Access to financial know-how is important for the sustainable growth of SMEs and startups. ABA is pleased to contribute to OBOR in collaboration with Khmer Enterprise to create opportunities and help SMEs, startups, and entrepreneurs advance and thrive.”
“Through this sponsorship, ABA continues to demonstrate its commitment to support the development of the SME sector in Cambodia, which is a vital component of the country’s long-term economic growth,” he added.
"We are extremely pleased to work with Khmer Enterprise on this program as it is a significant step in the strengthening of the startup and SME support ecosystem, which OBOR has been focused on for several years. We look forward to supporting young Cambodian companies to become the leaders of their space in the next 10 years," said CEO and Chairman of OBOR, Christophe Forsinetti.
About Khmer Enterprise
Khmer Enterprise (KE) is established as an implementation unit of Entrepreneurship Development Fund (EDF) to implement the support programs and directly work with partners and beneficiaries. It aims to mobilize, invest and manage resources, from all legitimate sources, to support the development of a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and to provide financial and non-financial supports to related entrepreneurial ecosystem builders. They are entrepreneurs, innovative startups, potential SMEs and partner institutions who participate in promoting entrepreneurial activities driving innovation and value-added creation in Cambodia’s economy.
About OBOR
OBOR is a venture capital firm, which to date has invested in and grown side-by-side with many of Cambodia’s leading SMEs, across key sectors such as waste management, water utility, q-commerce, and e-ticketing, pioneering an incredibly hands-on approach to the market. It leverages local market intelligence, global networks, and a deep, talented in-house skillset to help ventures succeed. Its strengths range from strategy to financial management to business development, to operations, to fundraising. To learn more about its activities, visit https://oborcapital.com/portfolio.
