Our Clients

Demand

In Cambodia, 85 percent of the population of 13.5 million lives in rural areas, where they engage in various agricultural activities, in handicrafts, in small-scale trading and in services.

Today, the Cambodian government has given priority to its poverty alleviation program, which plays a crucial role in upgrading the living standards of the population. Cambodian authorities have sharpened their focus on the microfinance sector since 1995, and consider it instrumental in the development of communities.

More than 90 credit operators including licensed MFIs and NGOs, are engaged in credit and savings operations in Cambodia, but they reach only a small fraction of the rural population. Commercial banks are mostly based in Phnom Penh and in eight provincial towns. There are no commercial bank branches in 15 provinces of the country.

With a growing demand for rural credit, there is a need to expand NGO activities in the medium term. While a number of NGOs are expected to become licensed microfinance institutions (MFIs) and expand their credit and savings activities, other smaller NGOs require assistance in strengthening their technical capabilities for sound financial management and operations.

Amret's operation areas: Prey Veng, Kandal, Takeo, Kampong Cham, Kampot, Sihanouk Ville, Krong Kep, Koh Kong, Kampong Speu, Kampong Chhnang, Svay Rieng, Kampong Thom, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap province

Customers' market share reached 25% and averaged 31.56% within Amret's operating areas. Penetration rate reached 7% and averaged 11% within Amret's operating areas.

Meet A Client

Chhoeng Sophal – Farmer Amret has enabled Chhoeng Sophal, 51, to plan much more successfully and significantly raise her family's standard of living. Sophal, a farmer in Khporb Leu village, Khporb commune, S'ang district, Kandal province is a mother of 5 children. She took out her first micro loan with Amret in 2003 when she and her husband wanted to improve their planning. Borrowing KHR 120,000 (US$ 30) as a part of five-person borrowers' group, Sophal bought ginger seed, arum seed and rented pumping machines so that she could gather much more than the previous year. After 7 loan cycles from Amret, she asked for a solidarity loan up to KHR 500,000 and individual loan up to US$ 700. With the KHR 500,000 loan, Sophal made a new business which is selling Kreap cake, and she uses the income from this business for her daily expenses. With the US$ 700 loan, Sophal rented land from her neighbor and bought two pumping machines for her own use to grow more ginger and arum. As a result, she can earn KHR 10,000,000 (US$ 2,500) per year from her plantation. Through, her hard work and with the help of microfinance, Sophal and her husband are now the proud farmers of 30 acres of land, have 3 pigs, a larger house, television, DVD player, two bicycles and more motorbike. In addition, she has arranged marriages for three of her children and sent her other two children to the high school.