IMF Policy Discussion Papers

Banking Reform in the Lower Mekong Countries

By Olaf Unteroberdoerster

September 1, 2004

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Olaf Unteroberdoerster. Banking Reform in the Lower Mekong Countries, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2004) accessed December 26, 2024
Disclaimer: This Policy Dicussion Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

This paper reviews recent banking reform efforts in the lower Mekong countries (LMCs), comprising Cambodia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and Vietnam. Linked by close economic and cultural ties, the three LMCs face the dual challenge of economic development and transition to market-based economies. Two-tier banking systems were formally introduced in the late 1980s. However, state-owned banks with weak balance sheets continue to dominate the banking systems of Vietnam and Lao P.D.R. Cambodia's main challenge is to reconstruct a banking system after decades of civil strife. Based on progress made and brief cross-country comparisons, the paper identifies key challenges and options for further reform.

Subject: Banking, Commercial banks, Credit, Financial institutions, Financial regulation and supervision, Foreign banks, Loan classification, Money, Nonperforming loans

Keywords: Asset quality, Bank, Bank intermediation, Bank management, Banking reform, Banking system, Cambodia, Central and Eastern Europe, Commercial banks, Credit, Foreign banks, Intermediation level, Lao P.D.R., Loan, Loan classification, Mekong, Nonperforming loans, PDP, Reform target, State-owned commercial bank, Transition economics, Vietnam

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    26

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Policy Discussion Paper No. 2004/005

  • Stock No:

    PPIEA0052004

  • ISBN:

    9781451972870

  • ISSN:

    1564-5193