AKP Phnom Penh, January 28, 2026 --

Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and UNESCO have pledged to deepen their strategic partnership to build a high-skilled, productive workforce capable of driving the nation’s future economy.

In a courtesy call on Tuesday, Labour Minister H.E. Heng Sour met with the newly appointed UNESCO Representative to Cambodia, Mr. Flavio Bonetti, to discuss scaling up cooperation in technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

Minister Heng Sour congratulated Mr. Bonetti on his appointment and lauded the success of ongoing initiatives, specifically the Decent Employment for Youth (DEY) programme and the Basic Education Equivalency Programme (BEEP).

"The DEY Programme is a vital mechanism supporting the Royal Government’s Pentagonal Strategy," the Minister said. "Our goal is to ensure Cambodian youth possess specialised skills and deep technological literacy. Equipping our workforce with real-world expertise is essential for increasing productivity and efficiency, which directly leads to higher wages and improved living standards."

To align with the evolving global market, both parties agreed on three key strategic priorities: Integrating digital and "green" skills into training curricula to meet the demands of Industry 4.0; Strengthening digital learning centres to provide out-of-school youth with essential education and foundational vocational pathways; Accelerating the certification of existing skills for returning migrant workers to facilitate their dignified reintegration into the domestic labour market.

Mr. Bonetti commended the Ministry’s vision and reaffirmed UNESCO’s commitment to fostering an inclusive workforce ready for the digital age. He noted that the robust partnership would be instrumental in achieving Cambodia’s long-term economic goals and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

By K. Rithy Reak