ACLEDA is reported (Phnom Penh Post, 22 June 2004) to have received a new US$6 million credit line from the IFC, one of its shareholders. The new loan was required to respond to a high demand for credit from microentrepreneurs and SMEs, with an expected 3,000 enterprises to be funded.

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a development agency of the US Treasury, will guarantee the first international bond sale, worth US$60 million bonds, to fund microfinance banks. Blue Orchard Finance is one of the two organisations issuing the bonds, which will be used to finance microfinance banks around the world. ACLEDA bank is among 25 banks that are in discussions to receive funding from the bond sale. (Bloomberg, 14 April 2004)