 “Riel usage is easy in our daily expenses, such as buying goods and easy to keep, even though it’s a little bit torn or old yet still can be used. More important, it also helps to promote our national currency to be more stable. However, it’s hard to use riel to buy expensive stuffs such as car or house, and some imported products like electronics and technology items because it requires huge amount.” Vanna Raty Officer, Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training |
 “We must push the national currency to be used [more] wider, as the riel’s contribution is beyond the national economy and finance. It plays an important role in promoting the economy, to understand the history, culture, civilisation and socioeconomic status of the society through each banknote.” Lorn Sarath Sixth year medical student, IU International University, Phnom Penh |
 “Majority of my customers who buy phones in my shop use riel and baht, I hardly see them using the dollar. But for the price tags on the phone, we write in dollars, because it’s short and easy to write. In Battambang’s Sampov Loun district, most of my customers rarely use the dollar, mostly they use riel and baht. Phom Borin Phone seller, Battambang Sampov Loun |
 “Garment workers’ salaries are paid in US dollars, so for the daily expenses such as buying food, paying water and electricity bills, I have to change to riel but for rental, I pay in dollars. However, due to fluctuations in exchange rate, from dollar to riel, I lose out. I support riel because it is a national identity, it’s our pride.” Srey Na Garment factory worker, Kandal province |
 “Agricultural products such as mangoes and rice are paid in local currency. Rural people prefer to use the riel more than the US dollar because it is easy to spend when trading goods. But most of the 100 banknotes are not popular because buying and selling are done using the 500 riel and above.” Um Sarith, farmer, Kien Svay district, Kandal province Um Sarith Kien Svay district, Kandal province |
 “I observe that more people support the riel and as always before the Khmer New Year, riel [value] is always high against the US dollar. I notice Chinese yuan, Thai baht and Vietnamese dong are also popular among the businessmen. I am also concerned about the sizes and colours of the riel, it leads to a lot of confusion among the users.” Tun Sothy Money changer, Psa Kab Ko, Phnom Penh |
 “Most of my customers buy vegetables daily using the riel because it’s easy to exchange. Even though it’s a slightly old or torn, yet they still can be used compared to the US dollar. However, sometimes it takes a long time to check the riel because some notes have the same size and colour, so some illiterate vendors who can’t read the numbers, it’s so difficult for them.” Srey Mao Vegetable vendor, Phnom Penh |
 “Regardless of currencies, I accept both riel and dollars from my customers. But riel is much easier for me as a motor taxi driver, because I am familiar with it and do not spend much time to check if it is fake or not, compared to the dollar. However, when customers give 5,000 note, I am often confused with 500 notes because it has the same colour.” Yin Noeun Motor taxi driver, Phnom Penh |
