Phnom Penh, 2 July 2026 – EuroCham Cambodia’s Real Estate & Construction Committee convened regulators, legal experts, financial professionals, and investors for its Breakfast Talk on Trust and Asset Protection to examine how Cambodia’s evolving trust framework is strengthening investor confidence and supporting cross-border investment.
Held at the Shangri-La Phnom Penh, the event brought together representatives from the Trust Regulator, legal and tax specialists, and the private sector to explore the practical application of Cambodia’s Law on Trusts and its role in facilitating international investment while protecting assets.
Opening the event, Mr. Serge Pak, Vice-Chairperson of EuroCham’s Real Estate & Construction Committee and Chief Executive Officer of Béton Block and Pave, welcomed participants. He emphasised the importance of having a formal structure for protecting assets and highlighted the growing role trusts can play as Cambodia continues to attract international investors seeking secure and transparent investment structures.
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“A trustee fund is a great tool to use in order to protect investors’ life savings. So today event brings a lot of information and awareness to the public. We should have more of these events around this matter,” Mr. Serge Pak, Vice-Chairperson of EuroCham’s Real Estate & Construction Committee and Chief Executive Officer of Béton Block and Pave.
H.E. Mr. Sok Dara, Director General of the Trust Regulator, delivered the opening address, outlining the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Cambodia’s trust ecosystem and reinforce the regulatory framework that supports responsible investment. He confirmed that the trust sector has become an important component of Cambodia’s broader financial architecture, providing investors with greater certainty while contributing to sustainable economic development.
The program continued with a presentation by Ms. Chheang Sokhary, Director of the Department of Legal Affairs and Inspection at the Trust Regulator, who provided an overview of Cambodia’s trust legal framework and explained how licensed trust companies enable foreign investors to hold and manage immovable property in compliance with Cambodian law while retaining beneficial ownership and economic rights.
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“For individuals, families, or businesses who wish to protect their assets, a trust can be an effective legal arrangement. Under this arrangement, the assets of the trustor are transferred into the trust and managed by the licensed trustee on behalf of the trustor for the benefit of the beneficiaries. The trust must be registered with the Trust Regulator to be valid, and once registered, the transferred assets become trust assets protected by law and the trust deed,” Ms. Chheang Sokhary, Director of the Department of Legal Affairs and Inspection at the Trust Regulator
Building on the regulatory perspective, Mr. Proeung Sopheap, General Manager of Phillip Trustee, demonstrated how trust structures are being applied in practice to protect assets, facilitate estate planning, and support long-term investment strategies. Through practical case studies, he highlighted how trusts are increasingly being used as flexible investment vehicles for both domestic and international investors.
The event concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Ms. Julie Keo, Vice-Chairperson of EuroCham Cambodia and Head of DFDL Cambodia EU Desk. Joining the discussion were Ms. Chheang Sokhary, Mr. Proeung Sopheap, Ms. Kim Kinkesa, Managing Director of APS Cambodia, and Mr. Diberjohn Balinas, Tax Partner at DFDL.
The panel explored how trusts can facilitate international investment, particularly by providing foreign investors with a legally recognised mechanism to hold property in Cambodia. Discussions also addressed the practical considerations surrounding taxation, compliance obligations, operational costs, and the importance of regulatory clarity to encourage wider adoption of trust structures.
Panellists agreed that while Cambodia’s trust framework has created new opportunities for investment and asset protection, continued collaboration between regulators and the private sector will be essential to simplify implementation, improve awareness, and further strengthen investor confidence. The discussion also highlighted the growing importance of professional trust services in supporting succession planning, wealth management, and long-term capital investment.
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“Trust structures are increasingly being considered by investors as a vehicle for asset holding and succession planning in Cambodia. However, as Cambodia’s trust and tax frameworks continue to develop, further guidance from the GDT would help address remaining practical tax uncertainties, particularly for trustors and beneficiaries.
Before establishing a trust, businesses and individuals should carefully evaluate the tax implications to determine whether a trust is the most suitable structure for their objectives. At DFDL, we advise clients on tax aspects of trust arrangements in Cambodia, helping them navigate the associated risks, opportunities, and tax consequences so they can make informed structuring decisions aligned with their business goals,” Mr. Diberjohn Balinas, Tax Partner at DFDL.
Closing the event, EuroCham Cambodia reaffirmed its commitment to fostering constructive dialogue between government and the private sector on emerging legal and financial frameworks that enhance Cambodia’s competitiveness as an investment destination. As the Kingdom’s trust sector continues to mature, the Breakfast Talk underscored the role of knowledge sharing and regulatory cooperation in supporting a transparent, secure, and internationally competitive investment environment.
