Sustainability Reporting in Cambodia: The Hidden Champion of ASEAN Countries

Cambodia has undergone enormous development in recent decades. The government of Cambodia wants to secure and further promote growth through a consistent concentration in its national development strategy on socioeconomic inclusion and environmental sustainability. While some countries have been discussing sustainable development and corporate social responsibility (CSR) for several decades, CSR in Cambodia is a relatively new concept. For the sustainable development of the country and an increase in the prosperity of society, there is a need for interaction between the state and companies. However, sustainable development can only be achieved with the active participation of companies. Simultaneously, companies can generate additional competitive advantages from CSR. However, the prerequisite for this is that stakeholders are aware of CSR. Accordingly, sustainability reporting is becoming increasingly important as an instrument for CSR communication and achieving competitive advantages. However, the dissemination and use of sustainability reporting in Cambodian companies have not yet been investigated. The aim of this study is, therefore, to present and analyse the current situation of sustainability reporting in Cambodia. The expected results are indications of whether and in what way sustainable development and its reporting is a concern of Cambodian companies. The data basis for the study is a literature search, an internet search and the Sustainability Disclosure Database of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The results show that compared to the other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, Cambodia is fourth last in terms of sustainability reporting. However, if the figures are put in relation to the gross domestic product (GDP) based on purchasing power parity (PPP), Cambodia ranks first. Cambodia can, therefore, be seen today as a hidden champion of sustainability reporting among the ASEAN countries and, thus, also as a role model for other developing countries.