AKP Phnom Penh, April 21, 2026 -- The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have officially launched a landmark US$9.5 million partnership to transform technical education in Cambodia. 

This partnership agreement for the “Project for Skilled Workforce Development to Meet Industry Demands in Cambodia” was signed by H.E. Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training and Ms. CHOI Moon Jung, Country Director of the KOICA Cambodia Office, on April 20.

The project, to be implemented from 2026 to 2030, plays a key role in bridging the gap between the classroom and the fast-paced demands of the modern global market through two objectives. 

First, it focuses on modernising essential training hubs—specifically NPIC, ITI, and PPI—by renovating workshops and upgrading training materials and equipment to ensure students learn on the same state-of-the-art equipment used in Korea’s top industrial zones. 

Second, the project aims to turn "Brain Drain" into "Brain Gain" by linking students to both local and overseas job opportunities, while linking returning migrant workers through the government-led Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process. 

By certifying their expert skills, the initiative empowers returnees to transition into high-level domestic roles or launch their own successful SME businesses right here at home.

By Phal Sophanith