Cambodia Enhances Vocational Training Collaboration with Finland and France

Shanghai:Cambodia's Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training announced that it has conducted bilateral meetings with education officials from Finland and France to enhance cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). These efforts aim to develop skilled human resources in line with evolving labour market demands. According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Cambodian Minister of Labour and Vocational Training H.E. Heng Sour met with Finnish Minister of Education H.E. Anders Adlercreutz and French Minister Delegate for Vocational Education and Training H.E. Ms. Sabrina Roubache at the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 event held at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre in Shanghai from September 22 to 24. During discussions with H.E. Adlercreutz, the focus was on strategies to promote TVET implementation. Both ministers agreed to initiate cooperation through partnerships between training centres and the private sectors of both countries, setting the stage for future government-to-governm ent collaboration. In a separate meeting with H.E. Ms. Roubache, H.E. Heng Sour highlighted the longstanding friendship between Cambodia and France, acknowledging France's considerable role in Cambodia's skill development through the French Development Agency (AFD). He emphasized the importance of these talks amid the need to prepare youth and workforce capabilities for a rapidly changing job market and expressed Cambodia's readiness to strengthen ties with France, especially in agriculture and food technology sectors. H.E. Ms. Roubache congratulated Cambodia on hosting the upcoming 20th Francophonie Summit in November 2026 and expressed hope for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the summit. This MoU would aim to solidify partnerships in TVET, apprenticeship programmes, and skill exchanges in construction, agriculture, and food production.