Data Extraction

On March 30, the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MOFE) announced additional financial support measures amounting to an estimated total of BND250 million, effective April 1. This Economic Relief Package (i) extends the deferment on principal payments of financing or loan to all sectors, (ii) provides for the restructuring or deferment on principal repayment of personal loans and hire purchase such as car financing, for a period not exceeding 10 years, (iii) provides for the deferment on principal repayments of property financing, (iv) provides for the conversion of any outstanding credit card balances into term loans not exceeding 3 years for affected individuals in the private sector only (including the self-employed), and (v) waiver of all bank fees/charges related to these facilities (except third party charges). Coupled with the earlier fiscal assistance, these measures will increase the value of Brunei’s Economic Stimulus Package to a total of BND450 million (or 3.2% of GDP).

(i) All bank fees and charges (except third party charges) that are related to trade and payments of transactions in affected sectors mentioned in Measure 3 will be waived for a period of six months; and (ii) No amount/estimate: Effective April 1 for six months, an interim fiscal package has been deployed to support SMEs and self-employed groups in sectors such as tourism, hospitality, transport and restaurants. The fiscal measures include amongst others, the deferment of payments on Employees Trust Fund (TAP) and Supplementary Contributory Pension (SCP) contributions, discounts on corporate income taxes, rents and utilities.

(i) The government is actively responding to the risks of the pandemic from spreading further by implementing a range of measures, including strict inbound and outbound travel restrictions and banning all mass gatherings, including weddings and sporting events; and (ii) The Ministry of Health (MOH) is also stepping up efforts to track close contacts of positive cases; (vi) MOH actively rolling out a contact tracing app (“BruHealth”) for residents to download before they are given the green light to visit public places.

No amount/estimate: April, The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) announced that there will be a lowering of required reserves that banking and financial institutions must maintain at the NBC both for local (riel) and foreign currencies.

No amount/estimate: April, Cambodia continues to maintain a managed floating exchange rate.

No amount/estimate: April, The NBC has implemented measures, such as (i) delaying additional increases in the capital conservation buffer, (ii) cutting the interest rate in its Liquidity Providing Collateralized Operations (LPCOs) that decreases banks’ funding costs in domestic currency, (iii) cutting the interest rate on negotiable certificates of deposit (the collateral for LPCOs) to encourage banks to disburse loans.

May 26, The Ministry of Economy and Finance will establish a “credit guarantee fund” of USD200 million. This fund may guarantee loans through banks and financial institutions using the market policy to assuage the pressure of cash flow and working capital of businesses in all sectors.

(i) Adjust the special financing plan of USD50 million through the Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (ARDB) and extend the provision of loans from this plan to the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) cluster; (ii) Adjust a special financing plan of USD100 million between SMEs and financial institutions to extend the coverage of loans to the enterprises in the medical equipment and medicine production sectors (See Measure 10: No breakdown).

No amount/estimate: April, The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) has also issued guidelines to financial institutions on loan restructuring for borrowers experiencing financial difficulties (but still performing) in priority sectors (tourism, garments, construction, transportation and logistics).