Tthe National Bank of Cambodia ( NBC ), the country’s central bank, and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry have launched the first phase of a cross-border, quick response ( QR ) code payments system allowing Cambodian applications to be used in Japan.

The launch in Osaka on July 4 follows a memorandum of understanding in April between the NBC and the Payments Japan Association, an industry-led initiative that aims to accelerate nation-wide adoption of digital payments.

Under the first phase, the NBC’s Bakong application and Cambodian commercial banking applications can be scanned with the JPQR ( Japan QR code ) in Japan. Under the second phase, Japanese applications will be scannable with the KHQR ( Cambodia QR code ) in Cambodia.

The initiative, says Chea Serey, the NBC’s governor, who attended the launch at the Expo 2025 site in Osaka, “underscores Cambodia's advancement in establishing a digital infrastructure for cross-border transactions, fostering collaboration and mutual growth”.

The linkage, adds Yoshio Fukuda, Payments Japan’s general-director, will “contribute to the increase of cross-border exchanges beyond payment, creating connections and networks that would enable continued growth and prosperity for Cambodia and Japan”.

Cambodia’s Acleda Bank announced separately that it would serve as the sponsoring bank for Cambodia in integrating the cross-border system while providing payment services, dispute resolution and technical support.

Japan’s Netstars Company will handle technology and networks, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation ( SMBC ) is the settlement bank for operations in Japan.

“Overall, this initiative,” Acleda states, “is anticipated to bolster trade, investment and, particularly, tourism, fostering economic growth in both countries.”

Over the past five years, Cambodia has forged bilateral QR payment linkages with South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Cambodia also has a commercial agreement with China’s Alipay, which allows users to make cross-border QR payments to vendors using KHQR from digital wallets in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Macao, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.