Ring the Bell for Gender Equality 2026 Advocates for Women’s Empowerment in the Workplace, Marketplace and Community in Cambodia

The Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC), Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX), the Australian Government and UN Women hosted ‘Ring the Bell for Gender Equality 2026’ on March 31, 2026, at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra. 

Held under the theme “Women. Leadership. Action. For Justice and Prosperous Economies.", the event was attended by representatives of listed companies, government regulators, the private sector, and signatories of UN Women and UN Global Compact's Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs).

It was the 2nd annual Ring the Bell for Gender Equality event organised in Cambodia, under a global campaign that includes the participation of 114 stock exchanges worldwide, advocating for women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community.

“Women play a vital role in driving Cambodia’s economic resilience. Australia is working with Cambodia and UN Women through WE RISE Together to unlock women’s full economic potential, invest in inclusive market systems and expand economic opportunities for all,” said Derek Yip, Australian Ambassador to Cambodia.

H.E. Hong Sok Hour, CEO of the CSX, said:

Gender equality is more than a social goal; it is an economic imperative. In Cambodia, women play a central role in managing household finances. By expanding opportunities for women to move from financial management to active investment, we can help build a stronger and more resilient securities market.

H.E. Sou Socheat, Director General of the SERC, further reaffirmed the regulator's commitment to this goal and called for greater action to be taken to build a securities market that everyone, regardless of gender, can participate and thrive in. 

He said:

I encourage companies to implement inclusive policies, investors to support gender-responsive opportunities, and women to actively engage in the market. Inclusion is not an option, it is a necessity. In addition, empowering women through finance is not just a social priority, it is a strategic imperative. Let us take decisive action to ensure that our securities markets become engines of opportunity where women can fully participate, lead with confidence, and drive sustainable growth.

Sophea Khun, National Country Programme Coordinator, UN Women Cambodia, also added: 

Gender equality is a powerful economic imperative. Through WE RISE Together, supported by the Mekong Australia Partnership, UN Women has partnered with key stakeholders to strengthen securities markets and advance gender-responsive procurement as critical pathways to driving women’s economic empowerment in Cambodia.

The event featured a moderated panel discussion under the topic "From Boardrooms to Supply Chains: Expanding Women's Market Access", which brought together buyers, financial institutions, and women entrepreneurs to examine the practical barriers and opportunities shaping gender-responsive procurement and women’s access to markets in Cambodia.

Representatives from the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) and ACLEDA Bank shared how public institutions and the financial sector are opening pathways for women-owned businesses, from digitalising procurement processes and increasing transparency in bidding, to expanding access to finance beyond traditional collateral requirements. 

A woman entrepreneur and supplier spoke from her experience to highlight the fragmentation of agricultural supply chains and called on large buyers and the government to invest in sustained, technology-enabled training, as well as to actively prioritise locally produced goods. 

Panellists agreed that bridging the gap between women-led SMEs and formal market systems requires not only policy reform, but consistent, practical action from buyers, financial institutions, and regulators to strengthen inclusive market systems.

As Cambodia's securities markets continue to grow, businesses, investors, and policymakers have a shared responsibility to ensure that growth is inclusive. Participants at the event were called upon to renew their commitment to the WEPs, open procurement processes to women-owned businesses, and support gender-responsive finance instruments as they develop in the Cambodian market. 

With the WE RISE Together programme advancing gender-responsive procurement across the Mekong sub-region, the foundations for more inclusive market systems are being laid. Now is the time for the private sector, financial institutions, and government to turn commitment into action, ensuring that women can fully participate in, lead, and benefit from Cambodia's economic future.

This press release was supplied.