The 2022 Economic Census recorded 753,670 business establishments, including 60,500+ MSMEs, employing 3 million people, contributing 63% of GDP, and providing 70%+ of non-agricultural employment. This demonstrates the critical role of MSMEs and the significant opportunity for mentoring to drive business growth and sustainability.

The SHE Programme has supported over 2,600 women-led MSMEs, with 93% of participants scaling and formalising their businesses. The programme has created 1,000+ new jobs, and participants have achieved an average income increase of $2,000+ within six months of graduation. This demonstrates the transformative power of targeted mentoring for women entrepreneurs.

According to the SHE Programme and Kiripost, women own 69% of all businesses in Cambodia, yet only 26% are formal MSMEs. This highlights a critical mentoring opportunity to support women entrepreneurs in formalising their businesses, accessing finance, and scaling their operations.

The IMNEt (Inclusive Mentoring Network) programme, implemented by Swisscontact, has trained 50 mentors across two cohorts and supported 46 women-led MSMEs. The second cohort achieved 44% female mentors and 73% female mentees. Notably, 100% of mentees reported improved confidence, and 100% of mentors were satisfied with the training and motivated to continue. The pilot phase trained 24 mentors (12 per province in Battambang and Siem Reap), with 70% female mentors and 80% female mentees gaining structured mentorship. 92% of mentees reported personal growth, and 97% of mentors noted a deeper understanding of the entrepreneurial landscape.

The Entrepreneurship Mentor Development (EMD) Programme was launched nationally in March 2026 by the Ministry of Commerce and Swisscontact. The programme aims to certify and develop mentors across Cambodia, creating a sustainable national mentoring ecosystem to support entrepreneurs and MSMEs. This represents a significant step toward institutionalising mentoring as a core component of Cambodia's economic development strategy.

The World Bank reports that the NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) rate for youth aged 15–24 increased from 6.188% (2021) to 6.315% (2023). World Vision Cambodia notes that 1 in 8 young people are NEET, facing significant skills mismatch with labour market demands. This underscores the urgent need for mentoring and skills development programmes.

With women owning 69% of businesses but only 26% formalised, mentoring programmes like SHE and IMNEt are critical to bridging the formalisation and finance gap. These programmes provide business development support, access to finance, and market linkages, enabling women entrepreneurs to achieve economic independence and sustainable enterprise growth.

The World Bank reports that agriculture employs 3.1 million people (33.4% of the workforce) and contributes 16.7% of GDP. Rice production surged from 9 million tonnes in 2012 to 13 million tonnes in 2024, with 651,522 tonnes of milled rice exported in 2024. Mentoring in agricultural value chains, agri-tech, and sustainable farming practices can significantly boost productivity and rural incomes.

The EMD Programme and IMNEt are building a structured mentoring ecosystem in Cambodia, connecting experienced professionals with aspiring entrepreneurs. This ecosystem approach ensures that mentoring becomes a sustainable, scalable, and institutionalised component of Cambodia's business development landscape, benefiting MSMEs, youth, and women entrepreneurs across the country.