Cambodia Unveils Three Strategies for Skills Innovation Ecosystem at Global Conference

Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, delivered an intervention at the 2026 Global Skills Professional Conference on the theme: "Building a Skills Innovation Ecosystem that is Diverse, Collaborative, and Aligned with Industry Needs." The conference, held on the afternoon of September 23, 2026, at the Shanghai World Expo and Convention Center in China, was presided over by Madam Wang Xiaoping, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security of the People's Republic of China. The conference, running from September 23-25, is part of the "48th World Skills Competition" and was attended by ministers, senior government officials responsible for labor, TVET, skills development, and professional skills development experts from around the world. Speaking to the conference, Mr. Sour described the forum as a crucial opportunity to discuss and share perspectives as global partners on building a responsive and future-ready skills ecosystem, given the rapid evolution of skills in line with fast-changing industrial and technological sectors. He stated that building a resilient skills innovation ecosystem requires a joint commitment from governments, enterprises, training institutions, parents, and workers to predict and respond to evolving labor demands. In this regard, Mr. Heng Sour put forth three key strategies. First, "Skills policy must be closely integrated with industrial and investment strategies, as well as labor market information." This principle is promoted through the alignment of industrial development policies, sector-specific industrial development strategies, the National Policy on Occupations and Employment, and the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Policy to define the direction of industrial development, skill requirements, and available resources for funding skills development. Second, "Collaboration with stakeholders in skills development must stem from strong leadership and encouragement." This enables training institutions and enterprises to jointly pool resources, share knowledge and skills, and provide training opportunities and work experience in industrial sectors, allowing trainers and trainees to keep pace with advancements in AI, digital technologies, and new industrial technologies. Third, "Promoting diversity and inclusivity within the skills ecosystem." As a developing country with diverse vulnerable populations, Cambodia has implemented special TVET programs for youth from poor families, ethnic minority groups, persons with disabilities, workers in the informal economy, and micro, small, and medium enterprise owners with varying levels of knowledge. Concurrently, pre-skill recognition tests are specifically organized for migrant workers. On this occasion, the Minister also called for strengthening international cooperation in skills development, as collaboration can ensure that skills ecosystems in various countries remain innovative, inclusive, and aligned with the evolving demands of global supply chains. Source: Kampuchea Thmey Local