IMF -- Resident Representative Office in Cambodia

Resident Representative for Cambodia

Jochen Schmittmann

Regional Resident Representative for the IMF Resident Offices in Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR

Office Information

Exchange Square, 13th floor, Unit 1301
Building No. 19 & 20, Street 106,
Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh,
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia

Tel: 855 23 268 602 and 268 603
Fax: 855 23 268 601
Email: APDKHMRR@imf.org

(Front left to right): Malai Khem Sokunthi, Pich Chenda, Phork Pholla, Jochen Schmittmann, Proeung Varith, Chhan Kong Yong, and Leng Chan Leapho

Jochen Schmittmann , Regional Resident Representative for the IMF Resident Offices in Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR: Jochen M. Schmittmann is the Regional Resident Representative for the IMF Resident Offices in Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR. Before that, he was the Deputy Head of the IMF’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Tokyo, Desk Economist on the Japan team, and Mission Chief for the Federated States of Micronesia. He previously was the IMF’s Resident Representative in Singapore, covering Singapore, Malaysia, and Asian financial markets. Before coming to Singapore, Jochen worked in the IMF’s Asia and Pacific, Western Hemisphere, Finance, and Monetary and Capital Markets departments. He also worked as part of the team managing the IMF’s investments. Jochen has published on a wide range of topics in finance and macroeconomics, including behavioral finance, climate finance, currency hedging, labor markets, and the economic impact of demographic change in Asia. Jochen holds a Ph.D. in Financial Economics from Goethe University Frankfurt.
PHORK Pholla, Economist: PHORK Pholla, Economist, joined the Resident Representative Office in Cambodia in June 2023 as Secondee. She previously worked at the National Bank of Cambodia at the Statistics Department, in which she focused on monitoring monetary and financial sector and in charge of external sector in financial stability team. Prior to that, she worked at local audit firm, where she handled the tax declaration for small businesses and provided customer support. She holds a master’s degree in Economic from Kobe University, Japan and a bachelor’s degree in Economic Business from National University of Management, Cambodia.
PROEUNG Varith, Economist: PROEUNG Varith, Economist, joined the Resident Representative Office in Cambodia in August 2023 as Secondee. He previously worked at the Ministry of Economy and Finance at the Macroeconomic and Fiscal Policy Department, in which he focused on real sector, monitoring garment, transportation and communication, and real estate sector; and non-bank financial sector – pawnshop. Besides his work in the forecasting and monitoring, he involved in researching team at the Supreme National Economic Council. In researching team, he involved in various fields of digital and society economy, garment, and transportation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and management from Université Lumière Lyon 2, France.
Leng Chan Leapho, Office Manager: Leapho has joined the IMF Phnom Penh Office since January 2003. Besides administering the office, he handles operations and the budget of the office. Prior to joining the Fund, (i), he worked nine years (December, 1994 to January, 2003) as the personal assistant to the Australian Ambassador with the Australian Embassy in Phnom Penh. (ii), he worked 15 months (October, 1993 to December, 1994) as the Human Rights Assistant with the United Nations Cambodia Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia. (iii), he worked 15 months (August, 1992 to October 1993) as Office Assistant/Interpreter with the UNTAC (United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia) based in Kompong Speu Province. (iv), he worked nine years (January 1983 to July 1992) as the Dental Assistant and Head of Dental Assistants (Dental Clinic) with the International Organizations (CRS – Catholic Relief Services and COERR - Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees) at the Refugee Camps located at the Cambodian-Thai Border. He holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Royal University of Law and Economics in Phnom Penh. He has a good working knowledge of Thai.
Pich Chenda, Secretary: Chenda Joined the IMF Phnom Penh Office since March 2001. She is in charge of data collection, daily update, mission schedule. She also helps in administering the IMF training programs for the office. She holds Associate of Education from International Institute of Cambodia. Prior to joining the Fund, (i) January 1995 to January 1996 she worked as teacher volunteer. (ii) February 1996 to September 1997 she worked as Secretary at the Strategic Planning Division of the Council for the Development of Cambodia under the United States Agency for Development program in Cambodia. (iii) October 1997 to February 2001 she worked as Administrative Assistant with the MRC/Danida Inventory and Management of Cambodian Wetlands Project.
Chhan Kong Yong, Office Driver: Yong has worked for IMF Phnom Penh Office since March 2012. Prior to joining the Fund, he worked as Cashier from 1994 – 2000. He works as private IMF driver to the IMF Advisor to the Ministry of Planning (National Institute of Statistics) from 2001 to 2008.
Malai Khem Sokunthi, Office Aide/Cleaner: She has worked for the IMF Phnom Penh Office since June 1994. Except during the office closure from October 1997 – November 1999. She makes absolutely the best cup of tea/coffee in Phnom Penh. You are invited to come by!!!

Frontier and Developing Asia: The Next Generation of Emerging Markets

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Useful Information

This web page presents information about the work of the IMF in Cambodia, including the activities of the IMF Resident Representative Office. Additional information can be found on the Cambodia and IMF country page, including IMF reports and Executive Board documents that deal with Cambodia.

Cambodia and the IMF

At a Glance : Cambodia's Relations with the IMF
News and Highlights
Cambodia and the IMF
Regional Economic Outlook Update: Asia and Pacific
IMF-JICA High-Level Conference on Frontier Asia

At a Glance : Cambodia's Relations with the IMF

Current IMF membership: 190 countries
Cambodia joined the Fund in December 31, 1969; Article VIII
Cambodia and the IMF
Quota: SDR 87.50 million
The last Article IV Executive Board Consultation was concluded on November19, 2021

News and Highlights

Good Times, Uncertain Times

Op-Ed on the Khmer Times, Jarkko Turunen and Yong Sarah Zhou, May 10, 2018

August 22, 2018
Money, Transformed: The Future of Currency in A Digital World

Finance and Development Magazine, June 2018

May 30, 2018
Cambodia Achieving Sustainable and Inclusive Growth

Cambodia SEATV interview with Dr. Yong Sarah Zhou, IMF Resident Representative in Cambodia, February 23, 2017

March 29, 2018
Climbing Out of Debt

Finance and Development, March 2018

March 8, 2018
Cambodian Economy: Strong Growth Amidst challenges (Khmer Version)

Op-Ed on Rasmei Kampuchea Daily Newspaper, Jarkko Turunen and Yong Sarah Zhou

October 24, 2017

Cambodia and the IMF

Cambodia: Technical Assistance Report - Customs Management on Special Economic Zones and Qualified Investment Projects

July 31, 2024

Series:Technical Assistance Report No. 2024/061
Cambodia: Technical Assistance Report-Training in Investigation Techniques

July 8, 2024

Series:Technical Assistance Report No. 2024/052
Cambodia: Technical Assistance Report-Report on Residential Property Price Index (RPPI) Mission

May 3, 2024

Series:Technical Assistance Report No. 2024/037
IMF Executive Board Concludes 2023 Article IV Consultation with Cambodia

January 31, 2024

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Cambodia.
Cambodia: 2023 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report

January 31, 2024

Series:Country Report No. 2024/036

Regional Economic Outlook Update: Asia and Pacific

April 29, 2024

April 2024 Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and Pacfic

Steady Growth amid Diverging Prospects

Growth in Asia and the Pacific outperformed expectations in late 2023, reaching 5.0 percent for the year. Inflation has continued to decline, albeit at varying speeds: some economies are still seeing sustained price pressures, while others are facing deflationary risks.In 2024, growth is projected to slow modestly to 4.5 percent. Near-term risks are now broadly balanced, as global disinflation and the prospect of monetary easing have increased the likelihood of a soft landing. Spillovers from a deeper property sector correction in China remain an important risk, however, while geoeconomic fragmentation clouds medium-term prospects. Given the diverse inflation landscape, central bank policies need to calibrate policies carefully to domestic needs. Fiscal consolidation should accelerate to contain debt burdens and debt service cost, in order to preserve budgetary space for addressing structural challenges, including population aging and climate change.
Read the Report

IMF-JICA High-Level Conference on Frontier Asia

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) held a conference on January 28, 2013, in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss how Frontier Asia can move up the development ladder while ensuring that growth and jobs creation benefits all segments of society.
The conference was addressed by IMF Deputy Managing Director Naoyuki Shinohara, and included ministers, central bank governors and senior officials from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. The Kyrgyz Republic also participated, and Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul offered opening remarks.

Conference website: www.imf.org/frontierasia (includes papers presented).
See also: Conference program and press release.

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IMF Office in Cambodia

At a Glance : Cambodia's Relations with the IMF

News and Highlights

Cambodia and the IMF

Regional Economic Outlook Update: Asia and Pacific

April 29, 2024

IMF-JICA High-Level Conference on Frontier Asia