Cambodia-Switzerland Cooperation focuses on Digital, Green, and Industrial Skills in TVET

CAMBODIA. Khmer Times (31 March 2026) - Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, met with Reto Grüninger, Head of Cooperation of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in Cambodia, on March 30, at the ministry headquarters to discuss progress and future collaboration in strengthening the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system in Cambodia.

During the meeting, Minister Heng Sour expressed deep appreciation to Switzerland for its continued support to Cambodia’s development and commended the close cooperation between the ministry and SDC. He noted that the partnership has played an important role in supporting skills development for migrant workers and the Cambodian labour force through strengthening the TVET system to better align with labour market demands and evolving industry trends.

The minister also highlighted the ministry’s progress and key priorities in improving training quality, governance and coordination within the TVET sector, aiming to meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the digital economy and society, as well as the transition toward a green economy.

In addition, he revealed that the ministry has prepared a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) skills assessment programme for former Cambodian migrant workers returning from Thailand. The assessments will cover eight construction-related occupations and are scheduled to begin on April 24, 2026. Those who successfully pass the evaluation will receive official certificates recognising their prior skills.

Minister Heng Sour also noted that amid rising fuel prices, electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy, particularly solar power, have received growing attention from the Royal Government. Recently, the government decided to exempt import taxes on EVs to promote wider adoption and make them more affordable in Cambodia.

He emphasised that mechatronics and electrical engineering skills are fundamental to the development of renewable energy technologies and modern industry. Whether in factories or the automotive sector, mechatronics is considered a core skill set required by the ministry. The field also requires stronger foundations in science as it combines mechanics, electronics, technology and artificial intelligence.

For his part, Reto Grüninger expressed appreciation for the strong cooperation between both sides and praised the progress made in strengthening workforce skills in Cambodia. He stressed that SDC remains committed to maintaining flexibility in its support and will continue assisting initiatives that deepen cooperation and improve coordination between the partners.

Both sides expressed strong hope that the constructive and forward-looking discussions would further strengthen and expand this important partnership, contributing significantly to human resource development and the labour sector in Cambodia.

This article is for educational purposes only. All credit and rights of this report remain with the original copyright holders such as owners, authors, and publishers of the material. More information on this can be found on our Additional Disclaimers page.