Battambang-Kampong Thom: Recognizing the importance of creating job opportunities in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Mrs. Him Sotharat, Deputy Secretary of State of the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, has urged stakeholders of the Decent Employment for Youth in Cambodia Phase III (DEY III) program to further assist SMEs to support local job creation for youth and returning migrant workers from Thailand.
This strong encouragement was made during a visit where Mrs. Deputy Secretary of State Him Sotharat, together with Mr. Chha Layhi, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Small and Medium Enterprises representing the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, and Mr. Sok Narith, Cambodia’s country representative of UNIDO, conducted an inspection tour of SMEs benefiting from the DEY III program. This activity is part of the DEY III program’s efforts to support and develop SMEs as well as to help Cambodian youth gain employment and better working conditions provided by SMEs.
The two-day visit took place from March 4-6, 2026, during which the Deputy Secretary of State, ministry representatives, and development partners inspected three SMEs in Battambang province (KH Oil Craft, Takada Craft, Thubo Craft) and two SMEs in Kampong Thom province (Fish Processing Craft, Sophorn Sok Meng, and Sandek Siang Leum Sreng Craft).
During the visit, ministry representatives, development partners, and enterprise owners discussed activities through which the DEY III program has provided opportunities for enterprise owners to receive entrepreneurship training, such as efficient resource use, strengthening food and product safety standards, and implementing high hygiene practices. These efforts have helped enhance production capacity, product quality, and market recognition. It is noteworthy that these SMEs have also created job opportunities for local communities, especially women, youth, and returning migrant workers from Thailand.
Additionally, SME owners benefiting from the DEY III program expressed satisfaction and gratitude to the ministries, development partners, and all related institutions for their dedicated efforts in implementing the DEY III program, which supports their enterprises to grow, contributes to local job creation, and forms part of Cambodia’s economic workforce.
Recognizing the importance of creating these job opportunities, Mrs. Him Sotharat encouraged ministry representatives and development partners of the DEY III program, as well as relevant regional departments, to continue their efforts to support and assist more SMEs. This is a key objective of the DEY III program to promote local job creation and improve working conditions in Cambodia.
