Cambodia’s 2026 Budget Aims to Bolster Sovereignty, Stability and Social Welfare

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Nov.11, 2025) — Cambodia’s 2026 national budget will serve as a strategic tool to strengthen national sovereignty, preserve macroeconomic stability and expand social welfare, National Assembly First Vice President Cheam Yeap said Monday.

Presiding over a parliamentary workshop at the National Assembly Palace, Yeap outlined the government’s priorities for the draft Law on Finance for Management 2026, which aligns with Prime Minister Hun Manet’s Pentagonal Strategy – Phase I.

The 2026 budget has been set at more than $10.16 billion (KHR 40.9 trillion), representing 18.85% of Cambodia’s projected gross domestic product and marking a 7.8% increase from the 2025 budget.

He said the budget has been designated as one to “strengthen capacity, protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity, ensure peace, preserve socio-economic and macroeconomic stability, develop human capital and institutions, and promote competitiveness through effective and sustainable public finance.”

Yeap praised the government’s progress under the 7th Legislature, citing key achievements such as the Cambodia–Thailand Joint Statement on Peace, the groundbreaking of the Techo Funan Canal, the inauguration of Techo International Airport, and the launch of six priority social welfare programs.

He voiced strong support for ongoing reforms in public administration, education, health and justice, calling them essential for long-term growth and resilience. Yeap also urged lawmakers to enhance fiscal transparency, attract investment and raise public awareness of budget policies.

“This workshop provides a vital platform for parliamentarians to shape a national budget that supports sustainable growth and meets the needs of the people,” he said.