Hanoi (VNA) – Cambodia and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have underscored the importance of developing a highly skilled workforce to support the country’s emerging electric vehicle (EV) and agro-processing industries as the nation seeks to diversify its economy, strengthen domestic production and achieve sustainable growth.
Cambodian Minister of Labour and Vocational Training Heng Sour and ADB Country Director for Cambodia Yasmin Siddiqi discussed measures to prepare the workforce for the green transition in Phnom Penh.
Sour said developing domestic processing capacity was not only an economic objective but also a strategic priority for connecting Cambodia’s agricultural base with modern industrial capabilities and empowering local businesses.
The development of electric vehicles (EVs) and advanced agricultural processing technologies offers Cambodia significant opportunities to shift towards higher-value production while creating new jobs for its growing workforce.
The Southeast Asian country needs to test new business models and modernise its industries, he said, noting that along with the transition to cleaner cars and trucks, Cambodia also aims to improve agricultural production and food-processing processes.
For her part, Siddiqi said the automotive and agro-processing sectors offered significant opportunities for Cambodia to move toward higher-value production.
Realising that potential, however, would require stronger technical and digital skills, quality standards, domestic supply chains and sustainable production practices, she noted.
The ADB remains committed to supporting the Cambodian government in strengthening human-resource development, updating skills systems and equipping workers with the skills needed to build a greener, more competitive and resilient economy, Siddiqi said./.
