Company Registry Spotlight: Cambodia

In this edition of our Registry Spotlight Series, we delve into the Business Registration system of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Ministry of Commerce oversees this essential registry, which facilitates the incorporation and regulation of businesses, ensuring compliance and transparency in the Cambodian market.

The Ministry of Commerce serves as the central authority for business registration in Cambodia. This registry is crucial for both local and foreign entrepreneurs, providing a platform to establish and maintain their business entities. Key online services include:

• Registering new companies
• Reserving business names
• Updating company details
• Filing annual declarations
• Accessing vital registry documents

For more information, visit the [Cambodia Business Registry].

The Cambodian Business Registry offers various documents and data necessary for business operations. Key documents include:

• Registry Printouts: General details, addresses, and information about directors/managers and partners.
• Company Information: Basic details such as company name, registration number, and registered address.
• Officers and Partners Data: Available for partnership entities, providing insights into the company’s leadership and ownership structure.

Types of Companies Registered

The Cambodian registry accommodates several types of business entities, including:

• Private and Public Limited Companies
• Sole Proprietorships
• General and Limited Partnerships
• Foreign Companies (including branches and subsidiaries)

As of 2014, there were over 513,759 non-street businesses registered in Cambodia (Open Development Cambodia). A couple of recent key statistics include:

• From January to November 2024, the Ministry of Commerce registered 9,530 new companies, a 17% decrease from the 11,506 registered in the same period in 2023.
• Among the new registrations in 2024, 4,725 were capital companies, 4,750 were sole proprietorships, and 54 were foreign trade companies.
• Additionally, around 1,284 companies were removed from the registry during this period.(Source: Khmer Times)

The Know Your Customer platform offers a seamless way for users to access official business registries in over 140 countries, including Cambodia, through a single REST API. Our KYC Sphere automatically standardises and converts data, making it easier to navigate details related to shareholders and beneficial owners. By utilising Know Your Customer, compliance teams can improve their onboarding and business Know Your Customer (KYC) and Know Your Business (KYB) processes, ensuring they meet regulatory requirements while gaining a competitive advantage in the rapidly changing landscape of digital financial services.

The Ministry of Commerce in Cambodia is committed to enhancing the efficiency of the business registration process. Recent reforms focus on automating services to reduce costs and processing times, thereby promoting domestic trade and private sector development. Minister Cham Nimul emphasised the ministry’s dedication to continuous improvement and innovation in public service delivery.

The Cambodian Business Registry plays a vital role in fostering a conducive environment for business activities. By ensuring real-time access to official information, it supports compliance and enhances the ability of businesses to navigate the regulatory landscape effectively.