Phnom penh: The Cambodia-UK Skills and TVET Forum 2026 was held in Phnom Penh on March 10, centering around the theme 'Building a Future-Ready Workforce Through Partnership.' The forum marked a significant step following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 'Exchanges and Cooperation in the Field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)' between Cambodia's Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and the UK Skills Partnership.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the event was co-chaired by H.E. Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, and H.E. Dominic Williams, British Ambassador to Cambodia. The forum saw participation from senior ministry officials, representatives from the British Embassy, development partners, industries, and training institutions. During the forum, H.E. Heng Sour underlined the strategic and timely nature of the partnership with the United Kingdom as Cambodia modernizes its national TVET system. He stressed that human capital development is vital for realizing Cambodia's aspiration to become a high-income country by 2050.
The Minister highlighted the collaboration's role in promoting green skills to support Cambodia's economic transition toward sustainability. He mentioned the exploration of developing green industrial zones, which could position Cambodia as a hub for green innovation and prepare its workforce for future industries. Echoing Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet's sentiments, H.E. Heng Sour emphasized that 'people' are Cambodia's most valuable asset as the country undergoes economic restructuring and diversification.
He identified the immediate priority as developing labor market information systems and strengthening sectoral expert councils, leveraging experience and technical frameworks from the United Kingdom. The Minister expressed confidence that the MoU on TVET cooperation would facilitate the integration of digital skills, innovation, and modern training approaches into Cambodia's TVET system. He noted the potential for joint research and training programs between Cambodian and British institutions in fields such as artificial intelligence, the automotive industry, and electric vehicle maintenance.
H.E. Heng Sour extended his gratitude to the Government of the United Kingdom, the British Embassy in Cambodia, the UK Skills Partnership, and all stakeholders involved in establishing the cooperation. H.E. Dominic Williams, in his address, expressed pride in the partnership, describing it as an exciting new chapter in Cambodia-UK cooperation. He expressed optimism that the initiative would infuse UK technical and vocational expertise into Cambodia's long-term development plans, creating a meaningful impact through capacity building and high-quality training programs that cater to industry needs and benefit the Cambodian populace.