(Phnom Penh): The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecast Cambodia’s economic growth in 2025 at around 4.8 per cent, slightly below the Royal Government’s mid-year projection of 5 percent.
The forecast was presented during a wrap-up meeting chaired by Aun Pornmoniroth, Minister of Economy and Finance, to conclude the “Assessment of Cambodia’s Macroeconomic and Public Financial Situation for 2025” with the IMF’s Article IV mission team led by Kenichiro Kashiwase, Mission Chief, on 2 September 2025, at the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
According to the Ministry’s press release, Kenichiro Kashiwase presented the mission team’s assessment of Cambodia’s macroeconomic situation, noting that economic growth in 2025 is projected at around 4.8 per cent. This reflects the impacts of high global trade uncertainties, the implementation of countervailing duties by the United States, and ongoing border tensions along the Cambodia-Thailand land border.
Nevertheless, based on the IMF team’s assessment, despite Cambodia’s economic outlook remaining resilient and maintaining growth momentum in 2025 and in the medium term, the country continues to face key risks, including (1) the prolonged global economic slowdown; (2) a decline in concessional financing; (3) persistent border tensions with Thailand affecting trade flows; and (4) rising debt pressures in the financial sector.
At the same time, the mission chief underlined that Cambodia’s economy is expected to sustain strong medium-term growth, but it is essential to accelerate reforms and implement sharp, effective, and timely policies. Among these, revenue mobilization remains a priority to strengthen the national fiscal base, while the government continues to place high importance on proactive interventions, productivity and labour force enhancement, competitiveness, economic diversification through a mixed policy of fiscal, monetary, and structural reforms.
Expressing appreciation for the IMF assessment, Aun Pornmoniroth highlighted the consistency of growth trends and sectoral growth evaluations for 2025, though noting slight differences in magnitude and expectations for the years ahead.
He further emphasized that the Royal Government has been considering comprehensive, targeted, and timely intervention packages, particularly for families affected by Cambodia-Thailand border conflicts and returning migrant workers, while continuing to address structural challenges such as productivity, labour force capacity, governance, investment climate, and export market diversification—transforming current challenges into opportunities for advancing socio-economic development.
The minister once again expressed his deep gratitude and high appreciation to the IMF mission team for their valuable recommendations to help Cambodia continue its path of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable growth in the medium and long term.
=FRESH NEWS
