PHNOM PENH – The Preah Srey Icanavarman Museum of Economy and Money (SOSORO) is set to open a new branch in Battambang province, one of Cambodia’s richest historical and cultural regions.

Blaise Kilian, SOSORO’s co-director, said the new SOSORO Battambang is designed to be more modern than its counterpart in Phnom Penh. 

It will tell the story of Cambodia’s economic, monetary and trade history through a blend of artifacts, audiovisual displays, and interactive experiences.

“The SOSORO Battambang will aim to strengthen economic literacy by making the NBC’s educational mission more accessible to people in the provinces,” Kilian said.

He said the new museum will give students, researchers, and residents greater opportunities to explore resources and exhibitions without needing to travel to the capital.

“Like in Phnom Penh, it will highlight the evolution of banking and monetary systems and the central bank’s role in local development — while adding a unique local dimension,” he said.

SOSORO Battambang will also focus on the province’s role in regional history and economic networks, and how they shaped Cambodia’s national development.

It is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the project now in its final stages. On September 15, National Bank Governor Chea Serey visited the site with Jean-Daniel Gardere, the main concept designer of both SOSORO Phnom Penh and SOSORO Battambang.

Funded by the National Bank of Cambodia, SOSORO is unique in its mission to preserve ancient and historic materials while presenting them through modern technology to enhance visitor engagement.

Battambang’s Story in the National Narrative

Battambang has long played a central role in Cambodia’s economic and cultural history. Its story, Kilian said, resonates with SOSORO’s broader narrative of how political, social, and geopolitical changes shaped monetary systems and economic policies.

Building on the success of the Phnom Penh museum, SOSORO Battambang will enrich the province’s cultural landscape while contributing to education, tourism, and local development.

“SOSORO Battambang will provide valuable insights into Cambodia’s economic and monetary history, with a particular focus on Battambang’s heritage, showing how the province’s story mirrored national change,” Kilian said.

Since its establishment in 2019, the Phnom Penh museum has welcomed over 150,000 visitors, both local and international, and has hosted many exhibitions and conferences. 

Its displays trace the journey of Cambodian currency from the Funan period (1st–5th centuries) and the Angkor era, through the transition from kingdoms to protectorates (1431–1953), and into the independence, war, and restoration years (1953–1998).

The expansion to Battambang reflects the wishes of the late Chea Chanto, former Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia and father of current Governor Chea Serey, Kilian noted.

“This important addition to the NBC’s cultural mission reflects both the desire to decentralize cultural institutions and to promote broader access to economic literacy and history across the provinces,” he said.