Dr. Kao Thach

Dr. Kao Thach is a Royal Government Delegate in charge as CEO of the Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (ARDB) of Cambodia. Concurrently, he serves as a member of the Cambodia’s Supreme National Economic Council (SNEC) with the rank of Secretary of State, and as a Labor Arbitrator of the Arbitration Council. He was sworn in as a Lawyer in 2012 and adhered to be a member of the Bar Association of Cambodia.

Prior to ARDB, he was Deputy Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Cambodia serving with the rank and privilege of an Undersecretary of State. He used to head the Financial Market Division, Financial Industry Department of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Cambodia on numerous assignments relating to financial sector development. Since joining the Ministry, he has been involved in various ASEAN working groups in relation to capital market development such as ABMI, ACMF, and Financial Services Liberation. He was a Legal Officer with the Ministry of Justice; and one of the key persons working towards the establishment of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Cambodia.

He authored the books, “Dispute Settlement System of the World Trade Organization, Theories and Principles of Dispute System Design” published by UTPP Press in Cambodia; and “Does the Role of Securities Regulators Matter for the Development of Securities Market in Cambodia?” published by the Centre for ASEAN Studies (CAS) -Centre for International Management and Development Antwerp (CIMDA) in Belgium.

Dr. Kao Thach holds a Bachelor of Law and Economics degrees and Master of Laws from the Bond University, Australia, with emphasis of International Trade Law System, WTO Legal Framework, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Dispute System Design. He graduated Doctor of Business Administration from the EU Business School, and Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy from the University of Cambodia.