Cambodia, KOICA Launch Skills Project to Expand Overseas Job Opportunities

PHNOM PENH, April 21, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia has signed a new partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to strengthen vocational training and open pathways for overseas employment, officials said Monday.

The agreement was formalized through a Record of Discussions between Labour Minister Heng Sour and KOICA Country Director Choi Moon Jung at the ministry’s headquarters in Phnom Penh.

Running from 2026 to 2030, the “Skilled Workforce Development Project to Meet Industry Needs in Cambodia” aims to equip workers with industry‑relevant skills for both domestic and international markets, particularly in the Republic of Korea.

At its core, the initiative will reinforce Cambodia’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system, with targeted support for the National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia, Preah Kossomak Polytechnic Institute and the Industrial Technical Institute. The program will expand access to training, raise awareness of TVET pathways and strengthen links between industry and education providers.

Efforts will include demand‑driven curricula, upgraded equipment and enhanced instructor capacity to deliver practical, hands‑on learning. Sour said the partnership would help build a workforce aligned with global standards, benefiting students, workers and international employers.

Jung welcomed the accord as a milestone, noting it would go beyond skills training by opening employment opportunities abroad. She described the project as one of her most significant achievements during her tenure in Cambodia.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to successful implementation and to exploring future collaborations to advance Cambodia’s human capital development.