(Phnom Penh): The Cambodia-UK Skills and TVET Forum 2026 was held in Phnom Penh under the theme “Building a Future-Ready Workforce Through Partnership,” on 10 March 2026.
The forum followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on “Exchanges and Cooperation in the Field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)” between the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and the UK Skills Partnership.
The event was co-chaired by Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, and Dominic Williams, British Ambassador to Cambodia, with participation from senior officials of the ministry, representatives from the British Embassy, development partners, industries, and training institutions.
Speaking at the forum, Minister Heng Sour highlighted that as Cambodia continues to modernise its national TVET system, the partnership with the United Kingdom is both strategic and timely, particularly for the country’s youth who represent an active workforce and a key driver of economic growth.
He emphasised that human capital development is essential for Cambodia to achieve its vision of becoming a high-income country by 2050.
“This collaboration also highlights the importance of green skills in supporting Cambodia’s economic transition towards a sustainable economy,” he said.
The minister added that Cambodia is also exploring the development of green industrial zones, which could help position the Kingdom as a hub for green innovation while preparing a workforce equipped for future industries in the region.
Citing the vision of Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, Heng Sour emphasised that people remain Cambodia’s most valuable asset and a key competitive advantage as the country advances economic restructuring and diversification.
To achieve these goals, he noted that Cambodia plans to strengthen labour market information systems and enhance the role of sectoral expert councils, drawing on the United Kingdom’s experience and technical frameworks.
Heng Sour expressed confidence that the MoU would support the integration of digital skills, innovation, and modern training approaches into Cambodia’s TVET system. The partnership could also promote joint research and training programmes between Cambodian and British institutions in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), the automotive industry, and electric vehicle maintenance.
The minister also expressed his deep appreciation to the Government of the United Kingdom, the British Embassy in Cambodia, the UK Skills Partnership, and all relevant stakeholders for their support in strengthening TVET cooperation.
During the forum, Ambassador Dominic Williams described the partnership as an exciting new chapter in Cambodia–UK cooperation, expressing hope that UK expertise in technical and vocational education would contribute to Cambodia’s long-term development and help deliver high-quality training aligned with industry needs.
=FRESH NEWS
