## 1. Data Quality Assessment Framework—Summary Results ## Source details **Canonical URL:** [1. Data Quality Assessment Framework—Summary Results](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/cr/2026/english/1khmea2026001-source-pdf.pdf) ## Other formats - [Markdown version](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2026/english/1khmea2026001-source-pdf.pdf.md) - [Structured JSON version](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2026/english/1khmea2026001-source-pdf.pdf.json) --- ### Summary of overall assessment - Assessment uses the 2025 pilot version of the IMF’s Data Quality Assessment Framework (DQAF). - Datasets assessed: national accounts, consumer price index, government finance, public sector debt, monetary and financial, balance of payments, and international investment position statistics. - Institutional responsibility: - National Institute of Statistics (NIS): national accounts and price statistics. - Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF): government finance and public sector debt statistics. - National Bank of Cambodia (NBC): monetary and financial, balance of payments, and international investment position statistics. - High‑level finding: "Macroeconomic statistics in Cambodia fall short in observing internationally recognized data dissemination standards—18 of 21 data categories do not meet the coverage, periodicity, or timeliness requirements of the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS)." - E‑GDDS participation: Cambodia has been a participant of the Enhanced General Data Dissemination System (E‑GDDS) with a National Summary Data Page (NSDP) since May 2018; updating the NSDP is an issue across several data categories. ### Legal and institutional environment (key findings) - Cambodia’s Statistics Act provides a strong legal foundation; a Sub‑Decree (March 2025) designates the NIS as a National Public Administration Establishment (PAE). - A draft Institutional Development Plan (2025–2029) aims to reform NIS governance, structure, data infrastructure and facilities, human resources framework, quality assurance, budgeting and capital investments. - GFS and PSDS are underpinned by solid legal and administrative frameworks and a supportive technological base. - NBC operates under a legal and institutional framework that supports professional independence and impartiality. - Persistent constraints: weak institutional arrangements and resource adequacy at NIS; scope to strengthen data integrity safeguards, transparency practices and regular review of resource use across agencies. ### Assurances of integrity (key findings) - Assurances of integrity could be strengthened across all three agencies. - Specific issues: - NIS lacks a dedicated ethics policy beyond the civil service code of conduct. - MEF does not publish terms and conditions under which GFS and PSDS are collected, compiled and disseminated. - NBC would benefit from an upgrade of its ethics policy to better address data privacy and governance. - Documentation and timely disclosure of methodological changes and revisions need improvement across agencies; users should be informed in advance of key methodology changes. ### Alignment with international statistical standards (key findings) - Mixed alignment across domains: - National accounts: follows internationally recommended concepts and definitions but with deviations in statistical output, scope, classifications, and methods. - CPI: "significant departures from the international standards"—CPI weights are more than twenty years old and no longer representative; representativeness of price collection points and of the basket lack key services. - GFS: deviations include the basis for recording not yet shifted to full accruals and GFSM 2014 framework not adopted in national fiscal presentations. - PSDS: scope limited to budgetary central government including public guaranteed debt; comprehensive public disclosure, particularly for SOEs, is lacking. - MFS: broadly aligned, consistent use of IMF Standardized Report Forms (SRFs); scope to improve valuation practices and coverage of other financial corporations (OFCs). - BOP/IIP: aligned to BPM6 (the IMF introduced BPM7 in 2025). ### Accuracy and reliability (key findings) - Source data adequacy varies by dataset: - CPI: critical gaps—outdated weights, representativeness issues, missing key services in basket. - National accounts: infrequent compilation of supply and use tables (SUTs) undermines quality assurance. - GFS and PSDS: would benefit from expanded data sources to enable quarterly general government operations (GGO) compilation, improved revenue and expenditure classifications, broader debt instrument coverage including arrears and contingent liabilities associated with PPPs. - MFS: source data are adequate and consistent for central bank and ODCs; gaps in OFCs coverage. - BOP/IIP: strengthen source data for direct investment (including PPPs), goods and some services, and external debt. - Quality assurance improvements recommended for NBC MFS and BOP/IIP: more automated validation and reconciliation, systematic analysis of revisions, expanded time series and increased data granularity. ### Serviceability and accessibility (key findings) - Timeliness and periodicity: - Quarterly GDP is not compiled. - CPI online dissemination experiences long lags. - BOP/IIP meet the periodicity and timeliness requirements of the SDDS. - Consistency checks for national accounts constrained by lack of institutional sector accounts, financial balance sheets, and infrequent SUTs. - GFS serviceability would benefit from expanded balance sheet reporting, integrated flow-stock statements, inclusion of COFOG classification, and more frequent publication of GGO data. - Accessibility: - Official statistics broadly accessible via NIS, MEF, and NBC publications. - Khmer-language sites upload data promptly; English versions often lag (e.g., E-GDDS metadata and NSDP not updated as required). - Machine-readable formats are limited; increasing machine-readable data availability is recommended. - MEF publishes a quarterly Public Debt Statistical Bulletin; for other datasets, contact information is less visible. - MFS metadata lacks comprehensive sources and methods documentation; deviations from international standards are not disclosed. - Structured user consultations and regular outreach (training, explanatory materials) are recommended across agencies. ### DQAF ratings (selected, exact) - Institutions — Dimension 1. Legal and Institutional Environment: - NIS = LO; MEF = LO; NBC = LO. - Institutions — Dimension 2. Assurances of integrity: - NIS = LNO; MEF = LO; NBC = LO. - Sample dataset ratings (Dimensions 3–6 summary): - National Accounts — Alignment with international statistical standards = LO; Accuracy and reliability = LO; Serviceability = LO; Accessibility = LNO. - Consumer Price Index — Alignment with international statistical standards = LNO; Accuracy and reliability = LNO; Serviceability = LNO; Accessibility = LNO. - Government Finance Statistics — Alignment with international statistical standards = LNO; Accuracy and reliability = LO; Serviceability = LO; Accessibility = LO. - Public Sector Debt Statistics — Alignment with international statistical standards = LO; Accuracy and reliability = LO; Serviceability = LO; Accessibility = LO. - Monetary and Financial Statistics — Alignment with international statistical standards = LO; Accuracy and reliability = LO; Serviceability = O; Accessibility = LO. - External Sector Statistics (BOP/IIP) — Alignment with international statistical standards = LO; Accuracy and reliability = LO; Serviceability = O; Accessibility = O. - Key to rating symbols preserved exactly: O=Observed (90-100% or 4.5-5.0); LO=Largely Observed (60-89% or 3.0-4.4); LNO=Largely Not Observed (30-59% or 1.5-2.9); NO=Not Observed (0-29% or less than 1.5). ### Notable dates, documents, and references cited exactly - 2025 pilot version of the IMF’s Data Quality Assessment Framework (DQAF). - Sub‑Decree (March 2025) designating the NIS as a National Public Administration Establishment (PAE). - Draft Institutional Development Plan (2025–2029). - Cambodia participated in the E‑GDDS with an NSDP since May 2018. - The IMF introduced the seventh edition of the Balance of Payments Manual (BPM7) in 2025. ### Overarching Priority Recommendations (selected) - Implement and strengthen intra- and inter-agency data sharing protocols to ensure access to source data needed to improve data accuracy, periodicity and/or timeliness. - Develop systematic and transparent revision policies and undertake analyses of revisions to inform improvements to data quality. - Develop a transition plan to address remaining gaps to prepare for SDDS subscription. - Adopt standardized, machine-readable dissemination formats (ideally following the SDMX standard). ### Priority Recommendations — Institutional (selected) - NIS: - Increase independence in staffing and resource allocation decisions. - Implement a competency-based HR framework. - Formalize relationships with data providers through MOUs (prioritizing engagement with the General Department of Taxation to enable access to tax data for estimating quarterly GDP). - Implement a centralized data platform and robust enterprise systems. - Formalize internal audit and outreach practices; strengthen medium-term planning. - Note: Recommendations included in the draft Institutional Development Plan (August 2025); draw on IMF Statistics Department diagnostic mission in September 2024. - MEF: - Establish formal data-sharing protocols with clear timelines and validation procedures. - Invest in secure and agile ICT infrastructure. - Expand staff capacity through targeted training and a professional career program. - Adopt quality assurance frameworks such as GSBPM and establish user consultation mechanisms. - NBC: - Modernize IT systems and ensure ICT resources are commensurate with statistical needs. - Operationalize inter-agency data sharing with service-level agreements using secure digital transmission channels such as APIs. ### Priority Recommendations — Assurances of Integrity (selected) - NIS: - Pre-announce key methodological changes. - Establish a comprehensive quality assurance strategy. - Develop a NIS-specific code of ethics and documented standards for safeguarding against data misuse. - Publicize the practice of government access to statistics prior to release. - MEF: - Publish terms and conditions (including legal provisions) governing collection, compilation, and dissemination of GFS and PSDS data. - NBC: - Implement a data integrity policy for data compilers and make it publicly available. - Provide systematic advance notice of methodological or source data changes. - Update ethics policy to cover phishing, cybersecurity, responsible use of AI, and conflicts of interest. ### Priority Recommendations — By Dataset (selected) - NAS (National Accounts): - Expand scope to include quarterly GDP, financial flow accounts, balance sheet accounts, and SUTs. - Increase frequency of GDP benchmarking to every five years (current practice is 10-year cycle; see detailed tables). - Formalize access to detailed quarterly tax data; strengthen other source data inputs for expenditure-based GDP. - Compile and publish quarterly GDP estimates and improve timeliness of release data. - CPI: - Include all relevant household expenditure transactions, expand coverage of services (telecommunication, insurance, air travel, recreational goods, accommodation and catering), and include household expenditure on new digital products. - If SES does not provide necessary coverage, identify alternative data sources for CPI weights. - Update expenditure weights (current weights from SES 2004); develop regional weights and use provincial price collection. - Update outlet sample to include new outlets and online stores; discontinue carry-forward imputation for non-seasonal missing products; recommend overall or targeted mean imputation methods and short-term price relative approach for imputation. - Publish CPI releases timely, provide consistent data over medium-to-long horizon (e.g., 10 years), and explain unusual changes; as of September 2025, most recent CPI release on the NIS website (English) was April 2024. - GFS: - Publish detailed GFS transition table mapping TOFE to GFSM 2014 format. - Complete SOE sectorization; publish COFOG data starting with budgetary central government. - Gradually transition toward full accrual accounting; improve granularity of source data and implement stock-flow reconciliations. - Develop and publish a revisions policy; establish a publicly accessible GFS database with machine-readable formats (e.g., CSV, SDMX). - PSDS: - Expand sector and instrument coverage to include other accounts payable (including arrears), nonguaranteed SOE debt, and PPP-related liabilities. - Establish monitoring and publish PPP-related obligations as an annex/chapter in the Debt Bulletin. - Formalize periodic revision studies and stock–flow reconciliations; publish a public release calendar and comprehensive metadata aligned to the PSDS Guide. - MFS: - Expand institutional coverage to remaining OFCs (rural credit institutions, leasing companies). - Strengthen valuation practices with fair-value estimation methods; develop automated source data validations; publish source and methods documentation and enable CSV downloads and an API. - BOP/IIP: - Improve coverage of imports; correctly record goods received without ownership change in services account only for services provided. - Adopt differentiated approaches to measure direct investment; supplement CDC data with targeted surveys of major DI companies. - Update travel services model (segment arrivals, enhance length-of-stay and expenditure estimates), introduce new travel surveys, and collect PPP source data to improve DI coverage. - Disseminate data using API and csv formats; publish comprehensive metadata regularly and a more visible advance release calendar. ### Appendix I — SDDS comparison (selected findings) - Cambodia participant in e‑GDDS with NSDP since May 30, 2018. - Authorities have not yet indicated interest in advancing to SDDS; mission recommends a transition plan to fulfill noncompliant data categories within 3-5 years. - SDDS specifies five sectoral groupings and 21 data categories; Cambodia does not meet SDDS coverage requirements for a production index, producer price index, general government operations, international reserves and foreign currency liquidity, and external debt statistics. - Periodicity shortfalls: shortfalls in periodicity for 8 data categories (including lack of quarterly GDP estimates). - Timeliness shortfalls: 8 data categories do not meet SDDS timeliness. - Comparative note: Cambodia is among six of eleven countries in the region that have not yet subscribed to the SDDS. The five SDDS-subscribing ASEAN countries are Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. - Selected table observations (preserving stated classifications exactly): - National Accounts (GDP): dissemination practice A; e-GDDS Recommendations Q; SDDS Requirements Q 6M 1Q 1Q; Coverage: Yes; Meets SDDS: No, QGDP not compiled. - Production Index: dissemination practice N/A; SDDS Timeliness 6W (1M encouraged); Meets SDDS: No, not compiled. - Consumer Price Index: dissemination practice M; SDDS Timeliness 1M; Coverage: Yes; Meets SDDS: No. - Central Government Operations: dissemination practice M; SDDS Timeliness 1M; Coverage: Yes; Meets SDDS: No. - Central Government Gross Debt: dissemination practice Q; SDDS Timeliness 2M 2Q 1Q; Coverage: No; Meets SDDS: Incomplete coverage. - Financial Soundness Indicators: Q Q Q 1Q 1Q 1Q; Meets SDDS: Yes. - Balance of Payments: Q Q Q 1Q 1Q 1Q; Meets SDDS: Yes. - Official Reserve Assets: dissemination practice M; SDDS Timeliness 2M 1-3M (1M encouraged) 1W; Meets SDDS: No. - International Investment Position: Q A Q 1Q 3Q 1Q; Meets SDDS: Yes. - External Debt: Q Q Q 1Q 2Q 1Q; Meets SDDS: No, incomplete coverage. - Exchange Rates: M D D 5W 1D; Meets SDDS: No. ### Appendix II — DQAF dimensions and rating key (selected) - DIMENSION 1 — Legal and Institutional Environment: evaluates legal basis, mandates, protections for privacy/confidentiality, coordination mechanisms. O rating denotes excellent environment; LO/LNO/NO indicate levels of deviation. - DIMENSION 2 — Assurances of Integrity: institutional safeguards, professional standards, transparency, and error correction practices. - DIMENSION 3 — Alignment with International Statistical Standards: dataset-specific conformity (e.g., 2008 SNA; BPM). - DIMENSION 4 — Accuracy and Reliability: source data, techniques, quality assurance, and revisions analysis. - DIMENSION 5 — Serviceability: timeliness, periodicity, relevance, consistency, and revisions policy. - DIMENSION 6 — Accessibility: dissemination formats, metadata, user support. - Rating Key (as presented): O = Observed (90-100% or 4.5-5.0); LO = Largely Observed (60-89% or 3.0-4.4); LNO = Largely Not Observed (30-59% or 1.5-2.9); NO = Not Observed (0-29% or less than 1.5). ### Appendix III — User’s Views (survey summary) - Survey conducted: July-August 2025. - Targeted: 55 institutional users; Responses received: 11 responses — a 20 percent response rate. - Respondents included representatives from academia, government, and international organizations. - Over 70 percent reported using official statistics for policy planning, analysis, decision making, and international comparison. - Most frequently used datasets: national accounts and balance of payments. - Only 36 percent of respondents considered the data quality to be very good or good. - User concerns: - Data accessibility impeded by datasets spread across multiple sources and NIS website design lacking clarity. - Data sometimes produced but not released, or released with significant lags. - Metadata paucity and untimely updates. - Perception that published explanatory information emphasizes positive outcomes and sidesteps sensitive topics. - Labor market data: lack of updated and comprehensive labor market data; no official unemployment data available. - User suggestions: timely data releases, transparency in methodologies, better website design, more user-friendly dissemination formats, and more granular data (e.g., FDI by industry and source country, financial and gender-based data). ### Detailed table highlights and additional recommendations (selected quantitative summaries) - NIS — Legal and Institutional Environment: Overall Assessment: Total 90; Recs. assessed 89; Recs. not relevant 1; 100% LO. - MEF — Legal and Institutional Environment: Overall Assessment: Total 90; Recs. assessed 84; Recs. not relevant 6; 100 LO. - NBC — Legal and Institutional Environment: Overall Assessment: Total 90; Recs. assessed 89; Recs. not relevant 1; 100% LO. - NIS — Assurances of Integrity: Overall Assessment: Total 30; Recs. assessed 30; Recs. not relevant 0; 100% LNO. - CPI update: project estimated new weights and identified an updated basket of 279 items, up from 258 items, using the Socio-Economic Survey (SES) for 2019. - As of September 2025, a matrix of provincial weights was estimated to allow aggregation of the new regional CPIs to the national index. - NIS plans to complete the CPI update by December 2025. - Key remaining challenge: replacement of the CPI compilation system (SQL‑based); NIS staff not fully familiar and will require assistance. - Once the WB project is completed, NIS intends to request IMF TA to continue improving CPI data sources, methods and compilation systems. ### MEF and NBC responses and planned actions (selected) - MEF: - Welcomes ROSC findings and supports establishing data-sharing protocols, enhancing staff capacity, introducing a formal revision policy and publication calendar. - Recognizes legal and institutional constraints; implementation may require phased approaches and legal revisions. - Commits to developing an action plan and prioritizing recommendations; collaboration with IMF and development partners is essential. - NBC: - Appreciates guidance and will continue working with IMF to strengthen data governance and align practices. - IT: plans to establish a secure internal system for data sharing; website being upgraded; resource constraints acknowledged. - Metadata and accuracy: plans to include methodological/source information in MFS bulletin and disseminate methods and sources documents; will liaise with IMF to update e-GDDS metadata contact. - External Sector Statistics actions: - Address merchandise trade coverage and imports understatement. - Improve recording of goods received without ownership change. - Work with CDC and MEF to develop DI source data; conduct a targeted DI survey of about 60 selected companies to compile enhanced DI estimates (to capture 2024 DI for companies not covered, including financial sector, publicly listed companies, and PPPs to be compiled by MEF). - Update travel services model, explore segmented arrivals, introduce new travel surveys, and capture gambler and non-resident Cambodian expenditures more accurately. - NBC seeks IMF support on validation checks for banks’ data and TA via CDOT and Japan-funded LTX assistance noted for BOP/IIP. *Source: IMF staff calculations from DQAF, as presented in "1. Data Quality Assessment Framework—Summary Results".* ### 1. Data Quality Assessment Framework—Summary Results _______________________________________ 7 ### 1. Data Quality Assessment Framework—Summary Results ### Summary of overall assessment - The assessment uses the 2025 pilot version of the IMF’s Data Quality Assessment Framework (DQAF). - The Report assesses national accounts, consumer price index, government finance, public sector debt, monetary and financial, balance of payments, and international investment position statistics. - The National Institute of Statistics (NIS) is responsible for national accounts and price statistics; the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) for government finance and public sector debt statistics; the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) for monetary and financial, balance of payments, and international investment position statistics. - "Macroeconomic statistics in Cambodia fall short in observing internationally recognized data dissemination standards—18 of 21 data categories do not meet the coverage, periodicity, or timeliness requirements of the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS)." - Cambodia has been a participant of the Enhanced General Data Dissemination System (E-GDDS) with a National Summary Data Page (NSDP) since May 2018; updating the NSDP is an issue across several data categories. ### Legal and institutional environment (key findings) - Cambodia’s Statistics Act provides a strong legal foundation for official statistics; a Sub‑Decree (March 2025) designates the NIS as a National Public Administration Establishment (PAE). - A draft Institutional Development Plan (2025–2029) aims to reform NIS governance, structure, data infrastructure and facilities, human resources framework, quality assurance, budgeting and capital investments. - Government finance statistics (GFS) and public sector debt statistics (PSDS) are underpinned by solid legal and administrative frameworks and a supportive technological base. - The NBC operates under a legal and institutional framework that supports professional independence and impartiality. - Persistent constraints: weak institutional arrangements and resource adequacy at NIS; scope to strengthen data integrity safeguards, transparency practices and regular review of resource use across agencies. ### Assurances of integrity (key findings) - Assurances of integrity could be strengthened across all three agencies. - NIS lacks a dedicated ethics policy beyond the civil service code of conduct. - MEF does not publish terms and conditions under which GFS and PSDS are collected, compiled and disseminated. - NBC would benefit from an upgrade of its ethics policy to better address data privacy and governance. - Documentation and timely disclosure of methodological changes and revisions need improvement across agencies; users should be informed in advance of key methodology changes. ### Alignment with international statistical standards (key findings) - Alignment is mixed across domains: - National accounts: follows internationally recommended concepts and definitions but with deviations in statistical output, scope, classifications, and methods. - CPI: "significant departures from the international standards"—CPI weights are more than twenty years old and no longer representative; representativeness of price collection points and of the basket lack key services. - GFS: deviations include the basis for recording not yet shifted to full accruals and GFSM 2014 framework not adopted in national fiscal presentations. - PSDS: scope limited to budgetary central government including public guaranteed debt; comprehensive public disclosure, particularly for SOEs, is lacking. - MFS: broadly aligned, consistent use of IMF Standardized Report Forms (SRFs); scope to improve valuation practices and coverage of other financial corporations (OFCs). - BOP/IIP: aligned to BPM6 (the IMF introduced BPM7 in 2025). ### Accuracy and reliability (key findings) - Source data adequacy varies by dataset: - CPI: critical gaps—outdated weights, representativeness issues, missing key services in basket. - National accounts: infrequent compilation of supply and use tables (SUTs) undermines quality assurance. - GFS and PSDS: would benefit from expanded data sources to enable quarterly general government operations (GGO) compilation, improved revenue and expenditure classifications, broader debt instrument coverage including arrears and contingent liabilities associated with PPPs. - MFS: source data are adequate and consistent for central bank and ODCs; gaps in OFCs coverage. - BOP/IIP: strengthen source data for direct investment (including PPPs), goods and some services, and external debt. - Quality assurance improvements recommended for NBC MFS and BOP/IIP: more automated validation and reconciliation, systematic analysis of revisions, expanded time series and increased data granularity. ### Serviceability and accessibility (key findings) - Timeliness and periodicity issues: - Quarterly GDP is not compiled. - CPI online dissemination experiences long lags. - BOP/IIP meet the periodicity and timeliness requirements of the SDDS. - Consistency checks for national accounts are constrained by lack of institutional sector accounts, financial balance sheets, and infrequent SUTs. - GFS serviceability would benefit from expanded balance sheet reporting, integrated flow-stock statements, inclusion of COFOG classification, and more frequent publication of GGO data. - Accessibility: - Official statistics are broadly accessible via NIS, MEF, and NBC publications. - Khmer-language sites upload data promptly; English versions often lag (e.g., E-GDDS metadata and NSDP not updated as required). - Machine-readable formats are limited; increasing machine-readable data availability is recommended. - MEF publishes a quarterly Public Debt Statistical Bulletin; for other datasets, contact information is less visible. - MFS metadata lacks comprehensive sources and methods documentation; deviations from international standards are not disclosed. - Structured user consultations and regular outreach (training, explanatory materials) are recommended across agencies. ### DQAF ratings (selected, exact) - Institutions — Dimension 1. Legal and Institutional Environment: NIS = LO; MEF = LO; NBC = LO. - Institutions — Dimension 2. Assurances of integrity: NIS = LNO; MEF = LO; NBC = LO. - Sample dataset ratings (Dimensions 3–6 summary): - National Accounts — Alignment with international statistical standards = LO; Accuracy and reliability = LO; Serviceability = LO; Accessibility = LNO. - Consumer Price Index — Alignment with international statistical standards = LNO; Accuracy and reliability = LNO; Serviceability = LNO; Accessibility = LNO. - Government Finance Statistics — Alignment with international statistical standards = LNO; Accuracy and reliability = LO; Serviceability = LO; Accessibility = LO. - Public Sector Debt Statistics — Alignment with international statistical standards = LO; Accuracy and reliability = LO; Serviceability = LO; Accessibility = LO. - Monetary and Financial Statistics — Alignment with international statistical standards = LO; Accuracy and reliability = LO; Serviceability = O; Accessibility = LO. - External Sector Statistics (BOP/IIP) — Alignment with international statistical standards = LO; Accuracy and reliability = LO; Serviceability = O; Accessibility = O. - Key to rating symbols preserved exactly: O=Observed (90-100% or 4.5-5.0); LO=Largely Observed (60-89% or 3.0-4.4); LNO=Largely Not Observed (30-59% or 1.5-2.9); NO=Not Observed (0-29% or less than 1.5). ### Notable dates, documents, and references cited exactly - 2025 pilot version of the IMF’s Data Quality Assessment Framework (DQAF). - Sub‑Decree (March 2025) designating the NIS as a National Public Administration Establishment (PAE). - Draft Institutional Development Plan (2025–2029). - Cambodia participated in the E‑GDDS with an NSDP since May 2018. - The IMF introduced the seventh edition of the Balance of Payments Manual (BPM7) in 2025. *Source: IMF staff calculations from DQAF, as presented in "1. Data Quality Assessment Framework—Summary Results".* ### 13. Based on the assessment of statistical practices—as presented in the Detailed Assessments ### 13. Based on the assessment of statistical practices—as presented in the Detailed Assessments ### A. Overarching Priority Recommendations - Implement and strengthen intra- and inter-agency data sharing protocols to ensure access to source data needed to improve data accuracy, periodicity and/or timeliness. - Develop systematic and transparent revision policies and undertake analyses of revisions to inform improvements to data quality. - Develop a transition plan to address remaining gaps to prepare for SDDS subscription. - Adopt standardized, machine-readable dissemination formats (ideally following the SDMX standard) to facilitate automated data usage in research, modeling, and policy analysis. ### B. Priority Recommendations (Institutional) #### Legal and Institutional Environment — National Institute of Statistics - Increase its independence in staffing and resource allocation decisions to augment data collection and dissemination efforts. - Implement a competency-based HR framework to guide recruitment, promotion, training and performance evaluation of staff. - Formalize relationships with data providers through memoranda of understanding (MOUs) to support better source data access (prioritizing engagement with the General Department of Taxation to enable access to tax data for estimating quarterly GDP). - Implement a centralized data platform and robust enterprise systems for secure data storage, data sharing, and backup protocols. - Formalize internal audit and outreach practices to strengthen allocation of resources and ensure relevance of data products. - Strengthen medium-term planning to ensure efficient allocation of resources. Note: These recommendations are included in the draft Institutional Development Plan (August 2025) covering 2025–2029 and draw on the IMF Statistics Department’s diagnostic mission in September 2024. #### Legal and Institutional Environment — Ministry of Economy and Finance - Establish formal data-sharing protocols—with clear timelines and validation procedures—to institutionalize regular data sharing within MEF and with key agencies such as the NBC and NIS. - Continue investing in secure and agile ICT infrastructure to support intra- and inter-agency data sharing in a protected and interoperable environment. - Expand staff capacity through targeted training and a professional career program to build a resilient team capable of delivering high-quality, comprehensive GFS and PSDS. - Adopt internationally recognized quality assurance frameworks such as the Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM) and establish mechanisms for user consultation and feedback monitoring. #### Legal and Institutional Environment — National Bank of Cambodia - Modernize IT systems and ensure ICT resources are commensurate with statistical needs through a medium-term plan geared towards software upgrades, automated validation, and sustainable technical support. - Operationalize inter-agency data sharing with service-level agreements for regular exchanges, using secure digital transmission channels such as APIs or other automated interfaces. #### Assurances of Integrity — National Institute of Statistics - Pre-announce key changes in methodology, source data and statistical techniques for its national accounts and price statistics programs. - Establish a comprehensive quality assurance strategy and an actionable framework to implement it across the NIS. - Develop a NIS-specific code of ethics for staff and include provisions on ethical responsibilities pertaining to statistical methods, processing and dissemination. - The practice of government access to statistics prior to their release is publicized. - Develop clear and documented standards for safeguarding against data misuse by staff and ensuring data confidentiality. #### Assurances of Integrity — Ministry of Economy and Finance - Publish the terms and conditions (including relevant legal provisions) governing the collection, compilation, and dissemination of GFS and PSDS data on the MEF website and in relevant statistical reports and bulletins. #### Assurances of Integrity — National Bank of Cambodia - Implement a data integrity policy for data compilers, clarifying permitted uses, retention, data-sharing protocols, and breach procedures, and make it publicly available to strengthen trust and transparency. - Provide systematic advance notice of methodological or source data changes. - Update the ethics policy to address emerging issues in data and statistics—covering phishing and cybersecurity, responsible use of AI without compromising confidential and market sensitive data of the central bank, and conflicts of interest with external providers—and require regular staff reaffirmation of ethical commitments. ### C. Priority Recommendations (By Dataset) #### NAS: Alignment with International Statistical Standards - Expand scope to include quarterly GDP, financial flow accounts, balance sheet accounts, and SUTs. - Increase frequency of GDP benchmarking to every five years. #### NAS: Accuracy and Reliability - Formalize access to detailed quarterly tax data to strengthen source data availability. - Strengthen other source data inputs, including those for expenditure-based GDP estimates. #### NAS: Serviceability - Compile and publish quarterly GDP estimates. - Improve timeliness of release data to the public, including by timely updates to the NIS website. #### NAS: Accessibility - Strengthen data accessibility to the general public and to specialized users. - Upgrade the functionality of the NIS website to provide better and more timely access to data, metadata, analysis, release schedules, and contact information. #### CPI: Alignment with International Statistical Standards - Include all relevant household expenditure transactions in the scope of the CPI, including online purchases (if applicable). - Expand coverage to include services not included or sparsely covered, e.g., telecommunication services, insurance services, air travel, recreational goods and services, and accommodation and catering services. - Include household expenditure on new digital products e.g., streaming services, ride share apps, cloud services etc. - If the Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey (SES) of Cambodia does not provide the necessary coverage of household expenditure, identify alternative data sources that can be used for the calculation of the CPI weights. - Clearly document and provide a justification for the exclusions from CPI scope. #### CPI: Accuracy and Reliability - Update the expenditure weights used for the CPI. The current weights were taken from the Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey (SES) 2004. - Develop a matrix of regional weights to allow for the aggregation of provincial CPIs to the national CPI. - Use price information collected in provinces outside Phnom Penh to compile the national CPI. - Update the sample of outlets that are used for price collection to include new outlets and markets, discount stores and online stores. - Use administrative data sources, where appropriate, for the collection of price information e.g., electricity prices. - Discontinue the carry-forward method for the imputation of temporarily missing products (non-seasonal) which introduces a bias into the CPI. Overall or targeted mean imputation methods are recommended. - Impute missing prices for seasonal products, during the out-of-season period. - Use the short-term price relative approach (rather than the long-term price relative) to allow for more accurate imputation of prices and adjustment for quality change. - Where relevant, and to the extent possible, apply implicit or explicit quality change adjustments when a variety becomes permanently missing. Note: Footnote guidance — Overall mean imputation uses the price relatives of all matched varieties in the relevant elementary index to impute the price for the missing variety. Targeted mean imputation uses the price relatives of a subset of matched varieties within the relevant elementary index to impute the price for the missing variety. #### CPI: Serviceability - Publish the CPI release on the NIS website in a timely manner. - Provide users with consistent CPI data over a medium-to-long horizon e.g., 10 years. - Publish explanations for unusual changes in the CPI or breaks and discontinuities in the component time series. Note: For more recent CPI data, there is basic information on the headline inflation rate published on the NIS website under the “Key Figures” section. However, as of September 2025, the most recent CPI release on the website (in English) was for the reference period April 2024. #### CPI: Accessibility - Provide CPI data to all users simultaneously. While key users, such as the MEF and NBC, are provided with the data in a timely manner, other users are required to wait for public dissemination of the data or request the data directly from the NIS. - Maintain a schedule that announces release dates for the CPI at least three months in advance. - Disseminate comprehensive metadata, including information on concepts, definitions, classifications, compilation methods, statistical techniques, and other relevant methodological aspects and procedures. - Disseminate CPI data in user-friendly formats, e.g., csv files, and ensure that the most recent CPI data are included on CamStat i.e., electronic database for NIS datasets. #### GFS: Alignment with International Statistical Standards - Publish more detailed GFS transition table mapping the Table of Government Financial Operations (TOFE) to GFSM 2014 format. - Complete SOE sectorization as a prerequisite to expanding GFS-sector coverage to the public sector. - Publish COFOG data starting with budgetary central government sector. - Gradually transition toward full accrual accounting. #### GFS: Accuracy and Reliability - Improve the granularity of source data (i.e., NFA and subsidies) and strengthen the accuracy of GFS classification. - Develop estimation methodologies for PAEs to produce high frequency (monthly/ quarterly) general government GFS. - Implement a systematic stock-flow reconciliation process, inclusive of other economic flows (OEFs). #### GFS: Serviceability - In coordination with NBC, improve timeliness of reporting general government fiscal data to the NSDP, to meet IMF’s data dissemination standards. - Develop and publish a revisions policy, supported by comprehensive documentation to ensure transparency and consistency in data updates. #### GFS: Accessibility - Establish a publicly accessible GFS database featuring monthly, quarterly, and annual time series, equipped with dashboards and machine-readable download formats (e.g., CSV, SDMX). - Publish the documented sources and compilation methods to strengthen metadata transparency. #### PSDS: Alignment with International Statistical Standards - Expand sector coverage to public sector and instrument coverage to include other accounts payable (including arrears), nonguaranteed SOE debt, and PPP-related liabilities. - Establish a monitoring system and publish PPP-related obligations and contingent liabilities outside budgetary central government as an additional annex / chapter in the Debt Bulletin. #### PSDS: Accuracy and Reliability - Formalize periodic revision studies to improve data quality and transparency. - Integrate systematic stock–flow reconciliations and structured supplementary data collections into PSDS compilation procedures. #### PSDS: Serviceability - Compile and publish reconciliation tables for stock-flow adjustments and fiscal balance-to-debt changes. - Develop and publish a formal PSDS revision policy to guide users and compilers in reporting and classifying revisions. #### PSDS: Accessibility - Introduce and adhere to a public release calendar to inform users when the Debt Bulletin will be published on the MEF website. Including the next release date when publishing a bulletin could be an initial step. - Develop and publish comprehensive metadata covering sources and methods aligned to the PSDS Guide. #### MFS: Alignment with International Statistical Standards - Expand institutional coverage of MFS to the remaining OFCs such as rural credit institutions and leasing companies. - Strengthen valuation practices by developing and applying fair-value estimation methods for instruments not actively traded. #### MFS: Accuracy and Reliability - Develop automated source data validations in Excel-based tables and the bank reporting IT system, embedding vertical checks and automated summations to reduce manual errors. - Establish a data handling guide to standardize quality assurances across all MFS staff—covering inter-sectoral cross-checks (central bank, ODCs, OFCs), plausibility tests, follow-up with reporters and recording corrective actions. #### MFS: Serviceability - Include explanatory notes in the MFS bulletin to document breaks in series and unusual movements due to changes in methodology or coverage, when applicable. #### MFS: Accessibility - Publish and regularly update a source and methods document detailing MFS survey coverage and any deviations from international standards in sectoring, classification, or valuation. - Ensure metadata are regularly updated in international databases (Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board/IMF Data) to strengthen transparency and international comparability. - Modernize dissemination practices by enabling CSV downloads, developing an API for real-time machine-readable access, and progressively introducing an interactive dashboard to view key aggregates such as net foreign assets and broad money. #### BOP/IIP: Alignment with International Statistical Standards - Improve coverage of imports. - Record only the services provided for goods received without ownership change in the services account and exclude the goods' value from the BOP. - To improve the coverage of direct investment, adopt a differentiated approach to its measurement, depending on the type of inward direct investment company. In particular, for direct investment companies registered under the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), their data should be supplemented with a targeted survey of major direct investment companies. - Strengthen IIP coverage of foreign assets and liabilities of resident non-financial corporations. #### BOP/IIP: Accuracy and Reliability - Update the travel services model, including by segmenting arrival data to enhance the accuracy of length of stay and average expenditure estimates. - Introduce new travel surveys to enhance services estimates. - Collect source data on public-private partnerships to improve coverage of direct investment. #### BOP/IIP: Serviceability - (No additional recommendations) #### BOP/IIP: Accessibility - Disseminate data using API and csv formats. - Publish comprehensive metadata regularly. - Broaden dissemination formats and offer analytical tools for users. - Publish a more visible advance release calendar. ### Appendix I — Cambodia’s Practices Compared to the SDDS - Cambodia has been a participant in the Enhanced General Data Dissemination System (e-GDDS) with a National Summary Data Page (NSDP) since May 30, 2018. - Authorities have not yet indicated interest in advancing to the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS); improving performance under the e-GDDS and compiling additional data categories would be critical steps towards SDDS subscription. - The mission recommends a transition plan to fulfill the requirements for the noncompliant data categories within 3-5 years. Key observations versus SDDS requirements: - The SDDS specifies five sectoral groupings and 21 data categories. - Coverage shortfalls: Cambodia does not meet SDDS coverage requirements for a production index, producer price index, general government operations, international reserves and foreign currency liquidity, and external debt statistics—these categories are either not compiled or compiled with coverage gaps. - Periodicity shortfalls: There are shortfalls in periodicity for 8 data categories (including the lack of quarterly GDP estimates). - Timeliness shortfalls: 8 data categories do not meet the timeliness prescribed under the SDDS. - A thorough gap analysis is constrained by lags in updating websites (including to provide releases in English) and by authorities sometimes viewing timeliness as internal release rather than public dissemination. Dissemination of—and adherence to—advance release calendars are key SDDS elements. - Cambodia is among six of eleven countries in the region that have not yet subscribed to the SDDS. The five SDDS-subscribing ASEAN countries are Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Selected table observations (preserving stated classifications and timelines exactly): - National Accounts (GDP): Cambodia’s dissemination practice A; e-GDDS Recommendations Q; SDDS Requirements Q 6M 1Q 1Q; Coverage: Yes; Meets SDDS: No, QGDP not compiled. - Production Index: Cambodia’s dissemination practice N/A; SDDS Timeliness 6W (1M encouraged); Meets SDDS: No, not compiled. - Consumer Price Index: Dissemination practice M; SDDS Timeliness 1M; Coverage: Yes; Meets SDDS: No. - Central Government Operations: Dissemination practice M; SDDS Timeliness 1M; Coverage: Yes; Meets SDDS: No. - Central Government Gross Debt: Dissemination practice Q; SDDS Timeliness 2M 2Q 1Q; Coverage: No; Meets SDDS: Incomplete coverage. - Financial Soundness Indicators: Q Q Q 1Q 1Q 1Q; Meets SDDS: Yes. - Balance of Payments: Q Q Q 1Q 1Q 1Q; Meets SDDS: Yes. - Official Reserve Assets: Dissemination practice M; SDDS Timeliness 2M 1-3M (1M encouraged) 1W; Meets SDDS: No. - International Investment Position: Q A Q 1Q 3Q 1Q; Meets SDDS: Yes. - External Debt: Q Q Q 1Q 2Q 1Q; Meets SDDS: No, incomplete coverage. - Exchange Rates: M D D 5W 1D; Meets SDDS: No. *Source: Detailed assessment and mission findings presented in the Detailed Assessments (Volume II).* ### Appendix II. The Data Quality Assessment Framework: ### Appendix II. The Data Quality Assessment Framework: Dimensions and Ratings Explained ### DIMENSION 1 — Legal and Institutional Environment - Covers legal basis, mandates, and institutional arrangements enabling a statistical system to operate credibly and effectively. - Concerns: - Formal authority to collect, process, and disseminate statistics. - Institutional protections for privacy, confidentiality and objectivity. - Coordination mechanisms ensuring consistency and compliance. - An “O” rating: excellent legal and institutional environment supporting statistical independence and good data governance, underpinned by quality-oriented infrastructure and adequate resources. - LO, LNO and NO ratings assess levels of deviation from the O rating. ### DIMENSION 2 — Assurances of Integrity - Refers to institutional safeguards, professional standards, and operational practices ensuring impartial production of statistics, free from external interference. - Integrity elements include: - Independence of judgment, unbiased methodological choices. - Transparent dissemination practices, fair treatment of staff. - Transparent correction of errors and mechanisms to address misuse of statistical information. - An “O” rating: meets highest standards on institutional integrity, transparency, and ethical standards. - LO, LNO and NO ratings assess levels of deviation from the O rating. ### DIMENSION 3 — Alignment with International Statistical Standards - Methodological basis should be sound and attained by following international standards, guidelines, and agreed practices. - Dataset-specific in application (e.g., 2008 SNA for national accounts; IMF’s Balance of Payments Manual for balance of payments). - An O rating: significant alignment with the statistical standard. - Lower ratings: indicate non-compliance and adverse impacts on international comparability and completeness. ### DIMENSION 4 — Accuracy and Reliability - Relates to whether data sufficiently portray reality at all stages of dissemination—from “flash” to “final” estimates. - Requires sound source data, statistical techniques, and rigorous quality assurance practices. - An O rating: adoption of best practices promoting a high level of confidence. - Lower ratings: dataset non-compliant with best practices; users should use with caution. ### DIMENSION 5 — Serviceability - Assesses whether produced and disseminated data are useful ("fitness for use"): - Timeliness and appropriate periodicity. - Relevance to subject field. - Internal consistency and consistency with related datasets. - Predictable revisions policy. - An O rating: adoption of best practices on frequency, timeliness, consistency, and revisions policy. - Lower ratings: dataset less relevant from users’ perspective. ### DIMENSION 6 — Accessibility - Users need understandable, clearly presented data in readily accessible formats, and comprehensive metadata and prompt support from data producers. - An O rating: best practices on data dissemination, user-friendly formats, and comprehensive metadata. - Lower ratings: indicate need for concrete steps to improve data transparency. ### Rating Key (as presented) - O = Observed (90-100% or 4.5-5.0) - LO = Largely Observed (60-89% or 3.0-4.4) - LNO = Largely Not Observed (30-59% or 1.5-2.9) - NO = Not Observed (0-29% or less than 1.5) --- ### Appendix III. User’s Views ### Survey Overview - Survey conducted: July-August 2025. - Targeted: 55 institutional users. - Responses received: 11 responses — a 20 percent response rate. - Respondents included representatives from academia, government, and international organizations. ### Key Findings on Uses and Perceptions - Over 70 percent reported using official statistics for: - Policy planning, analysis, decision making, and international comparison. - Most frequently used datasets: - National accounts and balance of payments. - Other dataset uses cited: - Price statistics; small percentages used international reserves, labor market, population census, agriculture, and SDGs. - Only 36 percent of respondents considered the data quality to be very good or good. ### Users’ Concerns and Comments - Data accessibility impeded by data spread across multiple sources and NIS website design lacking clarity on where data files are stored. - Data sometimes produced but not released, or released with significant lags. - Metadata accessibility issues: - Paucity of information on sources and methods and compilation practices. - Lack of comprehensiveness and untimely updates when metadata are produced. - Perception that published explanatory information/analysis focuses on positive outcomes and sidesteps potentially sensitive topics. - Labor market data: - Lack of updated and comprehensive labor market data (employment status, informality, sectoral shifts). - No official unemployment data available. - Labor market statistics are important for compiling/validating national accounts estimates. ### User Suggestions for Improvement - Timely data releases. - Transparency in the methodologies adopted. - Better designed website and more user-friendly dissemination formats (including greater access to freely available anonymized datasets). - More granular data (examples provided by users): - Detailed data on inward foreign direct investment by industry and source country. - Increased availability of financial and gender-based data. --- ### Detailed Assessment Using the Data Quality Assessment Framework (DQAF) ### A. Legal and Institutional Environment — National Institute of Statistics (NIS) - Table 1 summary (weighted score across 90 indicators grouped into ten data quality indicator categories): - Legal environment: Total Recs. 5; Recs. assessed 5; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment LO - Independence of the National Statistical System: Total Recs. 4; Recs. assessed 4; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 20%; Alignment LO - Coordinating the national statistical system: Total Recs. 10; Recs. assessed 10; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 15%; Alignment LNO - Assuring statistical confidentiality and data security: Total Recs. 13; Recs. assessed 13; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment LO - Response burden is minimized: Total Recs. 3; Recs. assessed 3; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment LO - Adequacy of human resources: Total Recs. 17; Recs. assessed 16; Recs. not relevant 1; Element Weights 15%; Alignment LNO - Adequacy of information technology resources: Total Recs. 5; Recs. assessed 5; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 5%; Alignment LNO - Adequacy of physical infrastructure: Total Recs. 3; Recs. assessed 3; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 5%; Alignment LNO - Cost-effectiveness practices: Total Recs. 15; Recs. assessed 15; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 5%; Alignment LNO - Relevance and quality management practices: Total Recs. 15; Recs. assessed 15; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 5%; Alignment LO - Overall Assessment: Total 90; Recs. assessed 89; Recs. not relevant 1; 100% LO - Additional Recommendation for NIS: - Build a cadre of professional statisticians, methodologists, national accountants, and communications experts to: - Improve culture of statistical, accounting, and managerial rigor. - Improve dissemination practices given new designation as a Public Administration Establishment (PAE). - Improve adoption of standards for data collection, compilation, analysis, integration, and dissemination across the statistical system. - Aid inter- and intra-agency collaboration and communication. ### A. Legal and Institutional Environment — Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) - Table 2 summary (weighted score across 90 indicators grouped into ten data quality indicator categories): - Legal environment: Total Recs. 5; Recs. assessed 5; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment LO - Independence of the National Statistical System: Total Recs. 4; Recs. assessed 4; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 20%; Alignment LO - Coordinating the national statistical system: Total Recs. 10; Recs. assessed 10; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 15%; Alignment LNO - Assuring statistical confidentiality and data security: Total Recs. 13; Recs. assessed 12; Recs. not relevant 1; Element Weights 10%; Alignment LNO - Response burden is minimized: Total Recs. 3; Recs. assessed 1; Recs. not relevant 2; Element Weights 10%; Alignment LO - Adequacy of human resources: Total Recs. 17; Recs. assessed 14; Recs. not relevant 3; Element Weights 15%; Alignment LNO - Adequacy of information technology resources: Total Recs. 5; Recs. assessed 5; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 5%; Alignment LO - Adequacy of physical infrastructure: Total Recs. 3; Recs. assessed 3; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 5%; Alignment O - Cost-effectiveness practices: Total Recs. 15; Recs. assessed 15; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 5%; Alignment LO - Relevance and quality management practices: Total Recs. 15; Recs. assessed 15; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 5%; Alignment LNO - Overall Assessment: Total 90; Recs. assessed 84; Recs. not relevant 6; 100 LO - Additional Recommendations for MEF: - Develop an internal Technical Compilation Guide for GFS to ensure business continuity and preserve institutional knowledge. - Consider including in the new Public Debt Law (currently being drafted) explicit provisions to strengthen legal basis for statistics, including: - Mandating public debt reporting practices fully aligned with international statistical standards and guidelines. - Requiring comprehensive debt reporting covering the entire public sector, including SOEs, subnational governments, and other relevant public agencies. - Encouraging public disclosure of explicit contingent liabilities (both outstanding and new), such as government-guaranteed and non-guaranteed debt of SOEs, and other liabilities related to PPPs and associated fiscal risks. ### A. Legal and Institutional Environment — National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) - Table 3 summary (weighted score across 90 indicators grouped into ten data quality indicator categories): - Legal environment: Total Recs. 5; Recs. assessed 5; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment O - Independence of the National Statistical System: Total Recs. 4; Recs. assessed 4; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 20%; Alignment O - Coordinating the national statistical system: Total Recs. 10; Recs. assessed 10; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 15%; Alignment LO - Assuring statistical confidentiality and data security: Total Recs. 13; Recs. assessed 13; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment LO - Response burden is minimized: Total Recs. 3; Recs. assessed 3; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment O - Adequacy of human resources: Total Recs. 17; Recs. assessed 16; Recs. not relevant 1; Element Weights 15%; Alignment LO - Adequacy of information technology resources: Total Recs. 5; Recs. assessed 5; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 5%; Alignment LO - Adequacy of physical infrastructure: Total Recs. 3; Recs. assessed 3; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 5%; Alignment O - Cost-effectiveness practices: Total Recs. 15; Recs. assessed 15; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 5%; Alignment LO - Relevance and quality management practices: Total Recs. 15; Recs. assessed 15; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 5%; Alignment LO - Overall Assessment: Total 90; Recs. assessed 89; Recs. not relevant 1; 100% LO - Additional Recommendation for NBC: - Enhance staff skills by offering training in data science and upgraded IT systems to institutionalize quality assurance and better accommodate emerging data needs. ### B. Assurances of Integrity — National Institute of Statistics (NIS) - Table 4 summary (weighted score of 30 indicators grouped into three broad indicator categories): - Institutional integrity: Total Recs. 8; Recs. assessed 8; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 24%; Alignment LO - Transparency: Total Recs. 10; Recs. assessed 10; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 34%; Alignment LNO - Ethical standards: Total Recs. 12; Recs. assessed 12; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 41%; Alignment LNO - Overall Assessment: Total 30; Recs. assessed 30; Recs. not relevant 0; 100% LNO - Additional Recommendations for NIS (Assurances of Integrity): - Ensure required infrastructure is in place to guarantee impartial practices (statistical law mandates impartiality in CPI and national accounts compilation). - Ensure decisions about timing, media, and other aspects of dissemination are based solely on statistical considerations such as user needs, without external interference. - Correct identified errors as soon as possible and inform users how changes affect published statistics. - Recruit and promote staff based on relevant aptitude and/or expertise in statistical domains (e.g., CPI and national accounts). - Promote a culture of professionalism, for example: - Professional accreditation of staff. - Peer review of statistical work. - Recognition of authors of methodological papers. - Institutional support of professional bodies. *Prepared by Statistics Department; Report based on information provided prior to and during a mission conducted during September 8–12, 2025, and a user survey conducted July–August 2025.* ### 5. Table 5 shows Cambodia’s weighted score of 30 indicators assessing the assurance of ### Table 5 shows Cambodia’s weighted score of 30 indicators assessing the assurance of integrity for the MEF and its statistical programs (GFS and PSDS) ### Assurances of Integrity — Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) - Elements assessed: 30 total recommendations; 26 assessed; 4 not relevant; Element Weights total 100%. - Alignment with: - Institutional integrity: Total Recs. 8; Recs. assessed 8; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 25%; Alignment: LO - Transparency: Total Recs. 10; Recs. assessed 6; Recs. not relevant 4; Element Weights 34%; Alignment: LNO - Ethical standards: Total Recs. 12; Recs. assessed 12; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 41%; Alignment: O - Overall Assessment: 30 total; 26 assessed; 4 not relevant; 100% overall; Alignment: LO - Key to Symbols preserved: O=Observed (90-100% or 4.5-5.0), LO=Largely Observed (60-89% or 3.0-4.4), LNO=Largely Not Observed (30-59% or 1.5-2.9), NO=Not Observed (0-29% or less than 1.5) - Additional Recommendation: - To clarify structure and accountability, publish an organizational chart and brief job descriptions of all teams involved in producing GFS/PSDS data. ### Assurances of Integrity — National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) - Elements assessed: 30 total recommendations; 26 assessed; 4 not relevant; Element Weights total 100%. - Alignment with: - Institutional integrity: Total Recs. 8; Recs. assessed 8; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 24%; Alignment: O - Transparency: Total Recs. 10; Recs. assessed 6; Recs. not relevant 4; Element Weights 34%; Alignment: LNO - Ethical standards: Total Recs. 12; Recs. assessed 12; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 41%; Alignment: LO - Overall Assessment: 30 total; 26 assessed; 4 not relevant; 100% overall; Alignment: LO ### National Accounts Statistics — Alignment with International Statistical Standards - Table coverage: 159 indicators; 159 assessed; 0 not relevant; Overall Assessment: 159 total; 159 assessed; 0 not relevant; 100% overall; Alignment: LO - Elements and alignments: - Concepts and definitions: 42 total; 42 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 30%; Alignment: LO - Accounting rules: 24 total; 24 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 20%; Alignment: LO - Methods: 8 total; 8 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: LNO - Classifications: 8 total; 8 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 15%; Alignment: O - Recommended scope of statistical output: 77 total; 77 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 25%; Alignment: LNO - Additional Recommendations: - Cambodia has chosen a 10-year cycle for GDP benchmarking, but this frequency should be increased to a 5-year cycle. - Regular production of SUTs in addition to balance sheet accounts, sector accounts, financial accounts, and national accounts extensions should be considered based on country priorities. ### National Accounts Statistics — Accuracy and Reliability - Table coverage: 208 indicators; 189 assessed; 19 not relevant; Overall Assessment: 208 total; 189 assessed; 19 not relevant; 100% overall; Alignment: LO - Elements and alignments: - Source data are adequate to ensure accuracy and reliability: 120 total; 109 assessed; 11 not relevant; Element Weights 50%; Alignment: LO - Accuracy of source data is regularly assessed: 6 total; 6 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: LO - Rigorous statistical techniques are used for modeling, estimation, imputation, Editing and valuation: 56 total; 50 assessed; 6 not relevant; Element Weights 20%; Alignment: LO - Rigorous quality assurance practices are employed: 17 total; 15 assessed; 2 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: O - Revisions analysis and reliability monitoring is conducted: 9 total; 9 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: LO - Additional Recommendations: - Strengthen sectoring of business enterprises by the NIS to improve source data quality. - Inventories are currently estimated as a residual. Direct estimation may be useful to verify this component of the accounts. ### National Accounts Statistics — Serviceability - Table coverage: 57 indicators; 40 assessed; 17 not relevant; Overall Assessment: 57 total; 40 assessed; 17 not relevant; 100% overall; Alignment: LO - Elements and alignments: - Periodicity: 8 total; 6 assessed; 2 not relevant; Element Weights 30%; Alignment: LO - Timeliness: 13 total; 7 assessed; 6 not relevant; Element Weights 30%; Alignment: LO - Data consistency: 23 total; 16 assessed; 7 not relevant; Element Weights 30%; Alignment: LO - Correction and revision policy and practice: 13 total; 11 assessed; 2 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: LO - Additional Recommendations: - Timeliness is primarily a challenge from a dissemination rather than a production perspective. The NIS needs a reliable communication vehicle for data releases and to inform users of revisions, releases, and other important information. - Improved access to detailed tax data would be beneficial as a tool for data confrontation. ### National Accounts Statistics — Accessibility - Table coverage: 44 indicators; 44 assessed; 0 not relevant; Overall Assessment: 44 total; 44 assessed; 0 not relevant; 100% overall; Alignment: LNO - Elements and alignments: - Data accessibility: 27 total; 27 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 45%; Alignment: LNO - Metadata accessibility: 9 total; 9 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 45%; Alignment: LO - Assistance to users: 8 total; 8 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: LNO - Additional Recommendations: - Address issues of accessibility of NIS data and metadata due to the outdated website and lack of modern functionality. - Strengthen access to modern IT tools (e.g., databases, electronic file transfer, etc.). - Remedy lack of an institutional email system; current reliance on Telegram and WhatsApp poses institutional and data security issues. ### Consumer Price Index (CPI) — Alignment with International Statistical Standards - Table coverage: 43 indicators; 42 assessed; 1 not relevant; Overall Assessment: 43 total; 42 assessed; 1 not relevant; 100% overall; Alignment: LNO - Elements and alignments: - Concepts and definitions: 15 total; 15 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 30%; Alignment: LNO - Accounting rules: 7 total; 7 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 30%; Alignment: LNO - Recommended classifications: 4 total; 4 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 15%; Alignment: LNO - Recommended scope of statistical output: 17 total; 16 assessed; 1 not relevant; Element Weights 25%; Alignment: LNO - Additional Recommendations: - At the next update of the CPI, use COICOP 2018. - Compile and publish CPI at COICOP 3-digit or more detailed levels. - Take account of discounts and promotions if generally available to households. - For used goods, compute weights following the new acquisitions approach (purchases minus disposals). ### CPI — Accuracy and Reliability - Table coverage: 75 indicators; 75 assessed; 0 not relevant; Overall Assessment: 75 total; 75 assessed; 0 not relevant; 100% overall; Alignment: LNO - Elements and alignments: - Source data are adequate to ensure accuracy and reliability: 35 total; 35 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 50%; Alignment: LNO - Accuracy of source data is regularly assessed: 6 total; 6 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: LO - Rigorous statistical techniques are used for modeling, estimation, imputation, editing and valuation: 24 total; 24 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 20%; Alignment: LNO - Rigorous quality assurance practices are employed: 5 total; 5 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: LNO - Revisions analysis and reliability monitoring is conducted: 5 total; 5 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: LNO - Additional Recommendations: - Maintain metadata on the extent of missing prices and methodological notes. - Routinely assess price changes against external sources. - Hold periodic consultations with consumers and businesses to identify new products and market trends. - Carry out periodic studies on long-term price trends to identify systematic biases and use findings to guide CPI method changes. - Document CPI update processes, including sampling, collection, validation, index weights, construction, and treatment of hard-to-measure items. ### CPI — Serviceability - Table coverage: 12 indicators; 11 assessed; 1 not relevant; Overall Assessment: 12 total; 11 assessed; 1 not relevant; 100% overall; Alignment: LNO - Elements and alignments: - Periodicity: 1 total; 1 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 30%; Alignment: O - Timeliness: 1 total; 1 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 30%; Alignment: LNO - Data consistency: 6 total; 5 assessed; 1 not relevant; Element Weights 30%; Alignment: LNO - Correction and revision policy and practice: 4 total; 4 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: NO - Additional Recommendations: - Ensure product weights sum to higher-level aggregate weights for consistency. - Ensure regional weights sum to national-level weights at the next CPI update. - Develop and publish a predetermined and stable revisions policy; monitor frequency of data errors and inform users when errors are corrected. ### CPI — Accessibility - Table coverage: 44 indicators; 42 assessed; 2 not relevant; Overall Assessment: 44 total; 42 assessed; 2 not relevant; 100% overall; Alignment: LNO - Elements and alignments: - Data accessibility: 27 total; 25 assessed; 2 not relevant; Element Weights 45%; Alignment: LNO - Metadata accessibility: 9 total; 9 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 45%; Alignment: NO - Assistance to users: 8 total; 8 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: NO - Additional Recommendations: - Provide a customized tabulation service. - Sources and methods document should note departures from accepted standards. - Designate and publish contact information for staff responsible for CPI user support. ### Government Finance Statistics (GFS) — Alignment with International Statistical Standards - Table coverage: 103 indicators; 84 assessed; 9 not relevant; Overall Assessment: 103 total; 84 assessed; 9 not relevant; 100% overall; Alignment: LNO - Elements and alignments: - Concepts & definitions: 54 total; 46 assessed; 8 not relevant; Element Weights 30%; Alignment: LO - Accounting rules: 23 total; 13 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 20%; Alignment: LNO - Methods: 7 total; 7 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: LO - Classifications/sectorization: 4 total; 3 assessed; 1 not relevant; Element Weights 15%; Alignment: LNO - Scope of statistical output: 15 total; 15 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 25%; Alignment: LNO - Additional Recommendations: - Review and update GFS mapping with the Chart of Accounts (COA) annually. - Enhance recording of Consumption of Fixed Capital (CFC) and reporting of government nonfinancial asset transactions on an accrual basis. - Investigate and improve recording of externally financed project transactions, including grants revenue and related expenditures by line ministries. - Compile and publish additional GFS tables (Statement of Sources and Uses of Cash, Statement of Other Economic Flows, Integrated Statement of Flows and Stock Positions), starting with the budgetary central government (BCG) and expanding to general government. ### GFS — Accuracy and Reliability - Table coverage: 123 indicators; 81 assessed; 42 not relevant; Overall Assessment: 123 total; 81 assessed; 42 not relevant; 100% overall; Alignment: LO - Elements and alignments: - Adequacy of Source Data: 85 total; 48 assessed; 37 not relevant; Element Weights 50%; Alignment: LO - Accuracy of Source Data: 7 total; 4 assessed; 3 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: O - Statistical Techniques: 9 total; 9 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 20%; Alignment: O - Quality Assurance Practices: 15 total; 13 assessed; 2 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: O - Revisions analysis & reliability monitoring: 7 total; 7 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: LNO - Additional Recommendations: - Establish a centralized process for collecting and reconciling off-budget transactions (externally funded project grants and donations received directly by line ministries). - Improve granularity and accuracy of stock and flow nonfinancial assets (NFA) by leveraging the State Asset Register Management Information System (SARMIS). ### GFS — Serviceability - Table coverage: 37 indicators; 31 assessed; 6 not relevant; Overall Assessment: 37 total; 31 assessed; 6 not relevant; 100% overall; Alignment: LO - Elements and alignments: - Periodicity: 4 total; 2 assessed; 2 not relevant; Element Weights 30%; Alignment: LNO - Timeliness: 4 total; 2 assessed; 2 not relevant; Element Weights 30%; Alignment: LO - Data consistency: 17 total; 15 assessed; 2 not relevant; Element Weights 30%; Alignment: LO - Correction & revision policy: 12 total; 12 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: LO - Additional Recommendation: - Improve periodicity and timeliness of general government reporting by producing reliable quarterly public administration establishment (PAE) estimates and consolidated general government GFS data rather than limiting reporting to annual frequency. ### GFS — Accessibility - Table coverage: 44 indicators; 41 assessed; 3 not relevant; Overall Assessment: 44 total; 41 assessed; 3 not relevant; 100% overall; Alignment: LO - Elements and alignments: - Data accessibility: 27 total; 26 assessed; 1 not relevant; Element Weights 45%; Alignment: LO - Metadata accessibility: 9 total; 8 assessed; 1 not relevant; Element Weights 45%; Alignment: LO - Assistance to users: 8 total; 7 assessed; 1 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: LO ### Public Sector Debt Statistics (PSDS) — Alignment with International Statistical Standards - Table coverage: 74 indicators; 63 assessed; 11 not relevant; Overall Assessment: 74 total; 63 assessed; 11 not relevant; 100% overall; Alignment: LO - Elements and alignments: - Concepts & definitions: 27 total; 22 assessed; 5 not relevant; Element Weights 30%; Alignment: O - Accounting rules: 20 total; 20 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 20%; Alignment: LO - Methods: 9 total; 3 assessed; 6 not relevant; Element Weights 10%; Alignment: NO - Classifications/sectorization: 4 total; 4 assessed; 0 not relevant; Element Weights 15%; Alignment: O - Scope of statistical output: 14 total; 11 assessed; 2 not relevant; Element Weights 25%; Alignment: LO - Additional Recommendations: - Ensure debt forgiveness or cancellation is consistently recorded as transactions that extinguish the debt obligation, in line with PSDS Guide. - For securities traded in secondary market, use midpoint exchange rate on the reference date to convert foreign-currency denominated debt positions into domestic currency. - Include in metadata a clear explanation of why MEF does not report contingent liabilities, such as credit guarantees. - Ensure debts arising from PPPs are clearly identified and appropriately recorded in line with international standards. - Calculate and publish market-value for traded instruments as a memorandum item in PSDS and Debt Bulletin. *Source: IMF Staff Calculations from DQAF (contents of Tables 5–19 as provided in the source PDF).* ### 20. Table 20 shows Cambodia’s weighted scores of 130 indicators assessing the accuracy and ### 1khmea2026001-source-pdf - 20. Table 20 shows Cambodia’s weighted scores of 130 indicators assessing the accuracy and ### Public Sector Debt Statistics (PSDS) — Accuracy and Reliability (Table 20) - Overall: Total Recs. 130; Recs. assessed 50; Recs. not relevant 80; Overall Assessment 100% LO - Elements: - Adequacy of Source Data: Total Recs. 97; Recs. assessed 28; Recs. not relevant 69; Element Weights 50%; Alignment LO - Accuracy of Source Data: Total Recs. 7; Recs. assessed 5; Recs. not relevant 2; Element Weights 10%; Alignment O - Statistical Techniques: Total Recs. 13; Recs. assessed 8; Recs. not relevant 5; Element Weights 20%; Alignment LO - Quality Assurance Practices: Total Recs. 6; Recs. assessed 6; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment O - Revisions analysis & reliability monitoring: Total Recs. 7; Recs. assessed 3; Recs. not relevant 4; Element Weights 10%; Alignment LNO - Key to Symbols: O=Observed (90-100% or 4.5-5.0), LO=Largely Observed (60-89% or 3.0-4.4), LNO=Largely Not Observed (30-59% or 1.5-2.9), and NO=Not Observed (0-29% or less than 1.5) - Additional Recommendations: - Regularly reconcile development partners’ grant information with the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) to improve consistency and accuracy in reporting - Investigate other debt liabilities (including arrears) of BCG, subnational governments, PAEs and SOEs using the FMIS, annual reports and other administrative sources. - Regularly monitor and report on potential SOEs’ debt exposures beyond on-lent loans and other accounts payables. ### PSDS — Serviceability (Table 21) - Overall: Total Recs. 43; Recs. assessed 29; Recs. not relevant 14; Overall Assessment 100% LO - Elements: - Periodicity: Total Recs. 5; Recs. assessed 3; Recs. not relevant 2; Element Weights 30%; Alignment LO - Timeliness: Total Recs. 7; Recs. assessed 5; Recs. not relevant 2; Element Weights 30%; Alignment LO - Data consistency: Total Recs. 19; Recs. assessed 15; Recs. not relevant 4; Element Weights 30%; Alignment LNO - Correction & revision policy: Total Recs. 12; Recs. assessed 6; Recs. not relevant 6; Element Weights 10%; Alignment LNO - Additional Recommendations: - Include in the debt publication or database a clear analysis of differences between revised and preliminary data, explaining where and why major changes occurred. - Improve the timeliness of disseminating PSDS to the IMF/World Bank Quarterly Public Sector Debt Statistics (QPSD) database. ### PSDS — Accessibility (Table 22) - Overall: Total Recs. 44; Recs. assessed 37; Recs. not relevant 7; Overall Assessment 100% LO - Elements: - Data accessibility: Total Recs. 27; Recs. assessed 25; Recs. not relevant 2; Element Weights 45%; Alignment LO - Metadata accessibility: Total Recs. 9; Recs. assessed 5; Recs. not relevant 4; Element Weights 45%; Alignment LO - Assistance to users: Total Recs. 8; Recs. assessed 7; Recs. not relevant 1; Element Weights 10%; Alignment O - Additional Recommendations: - Introduce and adhere to a public release calendar to inform users when the Debt Bulletin will be published on the MEF website. This will improve predictability and transparency in line with international best practices. --- ### Monetary and Financial Statistics (MFS) — Alignment with International Statistical Standards (Table 23) - Overall: Total Recs. 90; Recs. assessed 83; Recs. not relevant 7; Overall Assessment 100% LO - Elements: - Concepts & definitions: Total Recs. 34; Recs. assessed 28; Recs. not relevant 6; Element Weights 35%; Alignment LO - Accounting rules: Total Recs. 27; Recs. assessed 27; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 25%; Alignment LO - Methods: - - - - - - Classifications/ sectorization: Total Recs. 24; Recs. assessed 23; Recs. not relevant 1; Element Weights 30%; Alignment O - Scope of statistical output: Total Recs. 5; Recs. assessed 5; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment O ### MFS — Accuracy and Reliability (Table 24) - Overall: Total Recs. 93; Recs. assessed 81; Recs. not relevant 12; Overall Assessment 100% LO - Elements: - Adequacy of Source Data: Total Recs. 60; Recs. assessed 53; Recs. not relevant 7; Element Weights 50%; Alignment O - Accuracy of Source Data: Total Recs. 9; Recs. assessed 7; Recs. not relevant 2; Element Weights 10%; Alignment O - Statistical Techniques: Total Recs. 6; Recs. assessed 4; Recs. not relevant 2; Element Weights 20%; Alignment LO - Quality Assurance Practices: Total Recs. 12; Recs. assessed 11; Recs. not relevant 1; Element Weights 10%; Alignment LNO - Revisions analysis & reliability monitoring: Total Recs. 6; Recs. assessed 6; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment LO - Additional Recommendations: - Introduce a formal revisions policy and periodic revision analysis, covering the frequency, direction, and magnitude of revisions, and publish results to strengthen transparency and improve compilation practices. - Enhance the granularity of OFC data, especially for non-deposit taking MFIs to improve the accuracy of source data for OFCS compilation. ### MFS — Serviceability (Table 25) - Overall: Total Recs. 33; Recs. assessed 31; Recs. not relevant 2; Overall Assessment 100% O - Elements: - Periodicity: Total Recs. 3; Recs. assessed 3; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 30%; Alignment O - Timeliness: Total Recs. 3; Recs. assessed 3; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 30%; Alignment O - Data consistency: Total Recs. 15; Recs. assessed 13; Recs. not relevant 2; Element Weights 30%; Alignment LO - Correction & revision policy and practice: Total Recs. 12; Recs. assessed 12; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment LO - Additional Recommendations: - Strengthen the periodicity of insurance sub-sector reporting within the OFCs survey by moving from quarterly to monthly frequency. - Improve the timeliness of the central bank survey from dissemination 15–30 days after the end of reference period to within 1–15 days, aligning with SDDS requirements. ### MFS — Accessibility (Table 26) - Overall: Total Recs. 44; Recs. assessed 44; Recs. not relevant 0; Overall Assessment 100% LO - Elements: - Data accessibility: Total Recs. 27; Recs. assessed 27; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 45%; Alignment LO - Metadata accessibility: Total Recs. 9; Recs. assessed 9; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 45%; Alignment NO - Assistance to users: Total Recs. 8; Recs. assessed 8; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment O - Additional Recommendation: - Leverage the SRFs data to generate and publish customizable tables (e.g., by currency of denomination, instruments, or intra-sectoral relationships) to meet users’ demand. - Note: "Currently due to lag in reporting, monthly data are repeated for insurance corporations in MFS." --- ### Balance of Payments and International Investment Position (BOP/IIP) — Alignment with International Statistical Standards (Table 27) - Overall: Total Recs. 121; Recs. assessed 113; Recs. not relevant 8; Overall Assessment 100% LO - Elements: - Concepts & definitions: Total Recs. 52; Recs. assessed 52; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 30%; Alignment LO - Accounting rules: Total Recs. 21; Recs. assessed 20; Recs. not relevant 1; Element Weights 20%; Alignment O - Recommended Methods: Total Recs. 11; Recs. assessed 11; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 0%; Alignment LNO - Classifications and presentations: Total Recs. 4; Recs. assessed 4; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment O - Recommended scope of statistical output: Total Recs. 33; Recs. assessed 26; Recs. not relevant 7; Element Weights 15%; Alignment LO ### BOP/IIP — Accuracy and Reliability (Table 28) - Overall: Total Recs. 140; Recs. assessed 131; Recs. not relevant 9; Overall Assessment 100% LO - Elements: - Adequacy of Source Data: Total Recs. 85; Recs. assessed 76; Recs. not relevant 9; Element Weights 50%; Alignment LO - Accuracy of Source Data: Total Recs. 12; Recs. assessed 12; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment LO - Statistical Techniques: Total Recs. 18; Recs. assessed 18; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 20%; Alignment LO - Quality Assurance Practices: Total Recs. 18; Recs. assessed 18; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment LO - Revisions analysis & reliability monitoring: Total Recs. 7; Recs. assessed 7; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment O - Footnote: The NBC has benefitted from continuous technical assistance (TA) and training on BOP/IIP for the ten last years provided through regional long-term experts (LTXs) based at the Capacity Development Office in Thailand (CDOT), and funded by the Government of Japan. ### BOP/IIP — Serviceability (Table 29) - Overall: Total Recs. 43; Recs. assessed 43; Recs. not relevant 0; Overall Assessment 100% O - Elements: - Periodicity: Total Recs. 7; Recs. assessed 7; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 30%; Alignment O - Timeliness: Total Recs. 7; Recs. assessed 7; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 30%; Alignment O - Data consistency: Total Recs. 17; Recs. assessed 17; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 30%; Alignment O - Correction & revision policy and practice: Total Recs. 12; Recs. assessed 12; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment O ### BOP/IIP — Accessibility (Table 30) - Overall: Total Recs. 43; Recs. assessed 43; Recs. not relevant 0; Overall Assessment 100% O - Elements: - Data accessibility: Total Recs. 26; Recs. assessed 26; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 45%; Alignment O - Metadata accessibility: Total Recs. 9; Recs. assessed 9; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 45%; Alignment O - Assistance to users: Total Recs. 8; Recs. assessed 8; Recs. not relevant 0; Element Weights 10%; Alignment O - Additional Recommendation: - Enhance data accessibility by streamlining and publicizing dissemination practices around data releases: while the Balance of Payments Statistical Bulletin is published in hard copy and in pdf online format, the advance calendar notice only cites the Bulletin publication date although the data (Excel convertible to csv) are usually released before then. *Source: IMF Staff Calculations from DQAF (excerpts of 1khmea2026001-source-pdf).* ### 13. The project also estimated new weights and identified an updated basket (279 items, up ### 13. The project also estimated new weights and identified an updated basket (279 items, up from 258 items) using the Socio-Economic Survey (SES) for 2019. ### CPI update and implementation status - The project estimated new weights and identified an updated basket of 279 items, up from 258 items, using the Socio-Economic Survey (SES) for 2019. - As of September 2025, a matrix of provincial weights was estimated to allow aggregation of the new regional CPIs to the national index. - The SES 2019 was used because the survey data were more stable and representative of household consumption expenditure than the surveys in 2021 and 2023, which were during the COVID period. - The NIS plans to complete the update of the CPI by December 2025. - Key remaining challenge: replacement of the CPI compilation system, which is based on SQL and was originally introduced with the assistance of Sweden. - NIS staff are not fully familiar with how it works and will require assistance to make the required changes for the CPI update. - Once the WB project is completed, the NIS intends to request TA from the IMF to continue improving the data sources, methods and compilation systems for the CPI. ### Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) response and commitments - The MEF welcomes the Data ROSC findings and recommendations aimed at strengthening statistical capacity for compiling Government Finance Statistics (GFS) and Public Sector Debt Statistics (PSDS). - MEF highlights and supports: - Establishing data sharing protocols between key agencies. - Enhancing staff capacity through targeted training. - Introducing a formal revision policy and publication calendar. - Implementation caveats and contextual considerations: - Recognize Cambodia’s unique context and current scope of public debt reporting. - Implementation should consider existing legal and institutional constraints, including the need to revise or draft applicable laws and policies. - Specific recommendations such as expanding debt coverage and transitioning toward full accrual accounting may require a phased approach. - MEF commitments: - Strong commitment to developing an action plan and prioritizing the recommendations. - Ongoing national statistical reforms and growing demand for quality data require continued investment in systems and people, supported by sustained capacity building. - Collaboration with the IMF and other development partners will be essential. - Overall view: recommendations are relevant, actionable, and aligned with strengthening Cambodia’s statistical system in line with international best practices. ### National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) response and planned actions - General stance: - NBC appreciates the ROSC mission’s guidance and will continue to work closely with the IMF to strengthen data governance and align statistical practices with international standards. - NBC broadly agrees with the assessment of MFS and ESS and notes several recommendations are under consideration. - Information Technology (IT) - NBC’s IT Department has plans to establish a secure internal system to facilitate data sharing within NBC and, where appropriate, with other stakeholders. - NBC website is being upgraded with a redesigned interface to enhance searchability and usability. - Implementation challenge: enhancing IT systems will be challenging given scarce resources; NBC will prioritize core statistical needs and explore modernization opportunities as resources allow. - Metadata, transparency, and accuracy - Plans to include methodological and source information on MFS in the statistical bulletin. - Plans to disseminate a methods and sources document or technical compilation note to clarify survey coverage and explain data revisions. - To ensure regular updates of the e-GDDS metadata for datasets under its purview, NBC will liaise with the IMF to confirm the relevant contact person. - NBC seeks IMF support on introducing additional validation checks for banks’ data. - NBC recognizes emerging challenges of data privacy and access and is keen to learn from international best practices. ### External Sector Statistics (ESS) — specific actions and challenges - Coverage of Imports - NBC agrees that enhancing merchandise trade statistics is essential for the reliability of the BOP. - NBC commits to addressing identified areas where these statistics may be understated, particularly regarding imports. - Recent partner country reconciliation exercises have been helpful. - Goods Received Without Ownership Change - Authorities will continue efforts to improve the recording of imported goods for processing without changing ownership. - Direct Investment (DI) - NBC will continue technical work with the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) and the MEF to develop solid source data and enhance DI data compilation. - Reliable FDI data will also depend on greater commitment from the CDC to collect detailed company-level financial information. - NBC will continue to work with the IMF, through the IMF Capacity Development Office In Thailand (CDOT), toward developing a robust system for capturing DI data. - Action plan includes conducting a direct investment survey of about 60 selected companies to obtain responses and compile enhanced DI estimates based on the results. - This targeted survey will temporarily supplement CDC data given the current lack of comprehensive data. - The survey aims to capture direct investment data for 2024 from companies not covered above, including those in the financial sector, publicly listed companies, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) to be compiled by the MEF. - A key challenge is the absence of a comprehensive business register to support selection of the sample; the first step is to develop a comprehensive and up-to-date register. - Update The Travel Services Estimation Model - NBC’s action plan includes exploring and experimenting with available granular data sources and alternative methodologies. - Using more segmented visitor arrivals would provide a more robust estimation. - Introducing New Travel Surveys - NBC is working to update source data with ongoing support from Japan-funded TA provided through CDOT. - Following TA recommendations to update the travel services model and segment arrivals data, NBC has formed a working group with the Ministry of Tourism at the technical level to share data and is preparing to design and implement a targeted survey of travelers. - NBC is working to reclassify and update source data and models for: - Expenditures of gamblers to capture both the services component and the secondary income component. - Expenditures of non-resident Cambodians to capture both the services component and the secondary income component. *CAMBODIA — INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND* --- _Source: https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/cr/2026/english/1khmea2026001-source-pdf.pdf_