PM Hun Manet Pushes Skills Revolution to Build Competitive Workforce and Meet Cambodia’s Industrial Needs

PHNOM PENH, June 15, 2026 (KPT) — Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet has urged a nationwide drive to strengthen technical and vocational skills, saying a highly trained workforce is vital to Cambodia’s industrial expansion, investment attraction, and long-term economic growth.

Speaking at the 9th National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Day under the theme “TVET Provides Skills, Jobs and Income”, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet stressed that human capital remains central to the government’s development strategy and to enhancing Cambodia’s competitiveness in a fast-changing global economy.

“Human capital is the lifeblood of national socio-economic progress,” he said, adding that practical skills, technical expertise, discipline, and adaptability are key to sustainable and inclusive growth.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet highlighted the government’s flagship program to provide free technical and vocational training to 1.5 million youth from poor and vulnerable households. The initiative, part of the Pentagonal Strategy, offers tuition-free courses and monthly stipends to help young Cambodians gain market-relevant skills and improve job prospects.

He noted that hundreds of thousands of trainees have already benefited from vocational programs preparing them for careers in industry, services, and emerging sectors. To better align education with labor market needs, the government plans to introduce new pathways combining science, social science, and vocational streams.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet also backed mobile training classrooms that deliver skills directly to communities, particularly in rural areas. Current offerings include digital technology, automotive maintenance, electrical installation, plumbing, refrigeration, beauty services, and beverage preparation.

Pointing to Cambodia’s industrial progress, he said the country now hosts eight vehicle assembly plants producing gasoline, diesel, and electric cars — underscoring the growing demand for skilled technicians.

The premier urged parents, students, and employers to value technical and vocational qualifications on par with university degrees, calling TVET a pathway to quality jobs, entrepreneurship, and lifelong career advancement.

He instructed ministries to improve training quality, strengthen teacher capacity, expand workplace-based learning, and ensure programs remain aligned with industry needs. He also called for closer collaboration between government agencies, the private sector, and development partners to build a workforce capable of driving Cambodia’s industrial transformation.

Samdech Thipadei reaffirmed that the government will continue prioritizing investment in education, skills development, and healthcare — pillars he described as essential to creating jobs, raising productivity, and achieving Cambodia’s ambition of becoming a high-income country by 2050.