Geneva: On June 11, 2026, Mr. Heng Sour, Minister of Labor and Vocational Training, held bilateral discussions with Mr. Jérôme Cosandey, Deputy Director-General of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) of Switzerland, at the 114th International Labor Conference in Switzerland to showcase the progress of cooperation, explore opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), developing curricula to meet industry needs, as well as potential partnerships that provide mutual benefits.
During the important discussion, the Minister expressed his deep gratitude and high appreciation for the achievements of cooperation between Cambodia and Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), which is an important partner in development cooperation with Cambodia, especially in sustainable development, skills development and labor market integration, as well as long-term support for institutional strengthening.
Meanwhile, the Minister mentioned the “Decent Employment and Employment for Cambodian Youth (DEY) Program” as a necessary initiative that is helping to increase youth employment opportunities, strengthen the link between TVET training and the industry sector, and promote decent work opportunities. He also acknowledged Switzerland’s international excellence in TVET, particularly its model system of vocational training that combines classroom learning with practical work experience in the workplace. Mr. Heng Sour also expressed his deep appreciation for Switzerland’s excellent learning and experience in apprenticeship systems, industry participation, certification and quality assurance, which he considered to be of great importance for Cambodia’s reform agenda.
He also highlighted the process of reforming Cambodia’s TVET and workforce transformation, which focuses on skills upgrading, digital skills development, strengthening industry participation and expanding access to training through TVET to 1.5 million young people from poor and vulnerable families. These efforts aim to align training with labor market needs, strengthen partnerships with industry, and increase job opportunities for graduates.
In response, Jerome Kozende highly appreciated the Minister’s focus on skills development and linking TVET to the labor market. The Swiss side expressed its willingness to continue discussing cooperation on apprenticeship systems, private sector participation, quality assurance and exchange of experiences between the two countries. The two sides agreed to explore further cooperation on TVET program development and skills development, as well as capacity building through training of trainers, study visits and knowledge exchange.
