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Enhancing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Investments (3Ei) initiative launched to boost impact investing in Cambodia.

Cambodia
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
26.05.2023
The Enhancing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Investment (3Ei), an initiative of Khmer Enterprise and Swisscontact, is officially launched in Phnom Penh on May 26th, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh.  

 The 3Ei initiative aims to mobilize impact investing capital flowing into Cambodia by supporting Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs) to access both finance and non-financial support to spur business growth and generate social and environmental impact. The initiative also seeks to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems and enhance coordination among ecosystem builders.

"This initiative will serve as a platform with financial and non-financial support to local businesses unlocking their growth potential. Through collaborative support with specific activities including technical assistance for investment, ESOs capacity upgrading, match like-minded ecosystem actors and the usage of the collective data, Cambodia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem will be stronger and more robust."
H.E. Dr. Chhieng Vanmunin, CEO of Khmer Enterprise

The 3Ei initiative addresses four core problems to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem and foster investments in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Cambodia through four pillars including i) Connection for Collaboration, 2) Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 3) Blended Finance Facility, and 4) Data. The initiative will be co-implemented by Khmer Enterprise (KE) and Swisscontact Cambodia. This initiative is co-funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Ministry of Economy and Finance through Khmer Enterprise (KE), and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

The initiative is also in strategic partnership with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation to conduct a landscape study on Gender Lens Investing in Cambodia and Global Steering Group for Impact Investing.

"The Agenda 2030 acknowledges the importance of the private sector in reaching the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Through its funding, the SDC aims to support small and growing businesses in increasing their positive social and environmental impact in Cambodia."
Mr. Markus Buerli, Director of Cooperation of SDC
"3Ei initiative is aligned with KOICA’s development policy in supporting and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as Cambodia’s socio-economic development. He added “A holistic approach of the 3Ei initiative makes a more effective and greater impact in strengthening Cambodia's entrepreneurial ecosystem. This is also linked to the KOICA funded project called National Incubation Center of Cambodia (NICC)."
Mr. Kim Junsu, Deputy Country Director of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) 

3Ei launching introduced six projects: Give A Day, CAMESCO23, Ecosystem Builders Network (EBN), Data for Investment (D4I), Strengthen Entrepreneurship and Innovation (SEI), and Entrepreneur Investment Support (EIS) under four pillars. These initiatives formed delivery strategies for 3Ei aim to support ecosystem builders including development partners, government agencies, and funders. This launch is to ensure that all other Entrepreneurs Support Organisations (ESOs), Startups and SMEs become aware of the 6 programmes, which will serve as the vehicle for providing supports and services. Khmer Enterprise and Swisscontact will oversee these programmes to co-create, adjust, strengthen, and promote them throughout the project period.

The event was covered by the following media:

  • New platform ‘3EI’ unveiled: Aims to strengthen business and investment | The Phnom Penh Post
  • A Game Changer for Cambodia’s Startup Ecosystem: Launch of 3Ei Initiative Strengthens Collaboration Within the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Boosts Impact Investing in Cambodia | Cambodia Investment Review
  • សហគ្រិនខ្មែរ និងអង្គការស្វីសខន់ថាក់ ប្រជុំគ្នាដើម្បីពង្រឹងប្រព័ន្ធអេកូឡូស៊ីសហគ្រិនភាព និងការវិនិយោគ(3Ei) ឆ្ពោះទៅកាន់ការរីកចម្រើនសេដ្ឋកិច្ចកម្ពុជា | Fresh News
  • MoU signing marks 3Ei launch | Khmer Times
  • Cambodian Small and Growing Businesses to Benefit from 3Ei Initiative |​​ The Better Cambodia
2023 - 2027
Cambodia
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
Enhancing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Investments (3Ei)
The overall goal of the 3Ei is for the private sector to actively contribute to Cambodia's socio-economic development and attain the goals of the SDGs. The achievement of this overall goal will be driven by two outcomes. Outcome 1: Enhanced coordination, and collaboration within the entrepreneurial ecosystem; and Outcome 2: Increased business performance and investments in the ecosystem and impact enterprises.
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