Cambodia and Brazil Forge New Chapter in Labor, Social Security, and Vocational Training Cooperation

H.E. Heng Sour, Minister of Labor and Vocational Training, met with H.E. Vivian Loss Sanmartin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federative Republic of Brazil to Cambodia, on the afternoon of July 24, 2026, at the Ministry's headquarters. The meeting aimed to strengthen friendship and bilateral relations between Cambodia and Brazil, discussing the potential for enhancing cooperation in the fields of labor, social security, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), as well as identifying priority areas and practical mechanisms for future bilateral cooperation. H.E. Minister Heng Sour warmly welcomed H.E. Vivian Loss Sanmartin and her delegation, congratulating her on her appointment as the first Brazilian Ambassador to Cambodia in over 30 years, marking a significant step in strengthening political, economic, and people-to-people ties between the two nations. The Minister expressed firm belief that the Ambassador's tenure will serve as a crucial bridge for enhancing Cambodia-Brazil relations and opening doors to new cooperation in all sectors, not just labor, social security, and TVET. He noted that although cooperation in labor, social security, and TVET is in its initial stages, people-to-people relations between the two countries are continuously growing. H.E. Heng Sour also affirmed Cambodia's commitment to ensuring that foreign workers, including Brazilians, receive protection, equality, and benefits from social security (B.O.S.S.) in accordance with Cambodian laws and regulations. Focusing on the TVET system, particularly Brazil's S-System, the Minister highlighted the possibilities for cooperation in training master trainers, institutional capacity building, TVET program development, curriculum development, on-the-job training programs, and the processing of agricultural products and agricultural technology. Cambodia stands ready to cooperate closely with the Brazilian Embassy to strengthen practical cooperation that yields mutual benefits. He expressed strong hope that Cambodia and Brazil will work even more closely to transform these initial discussions into tangible cooperation benefiting the citizens, training institutions, and employers of both countries. In response, H.E. Vivian Loss Sanmartin expressed her deep gratitude to H.E. Minister Heng Sour for the warm welcome and fruitful discussion, and for his visionary strategic plan for Cambodia. She expressed her pleasure and pride in being appointed as the first Brazilian Ambassador to Cambodia, creating a new historical chapter for Cambodia-Brazil cooperation, and reiterated Brazil's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Cambodia. Ambassador Sanmartin stated that one of her key priorities is to meet with leaders and relevant institutions in Cambodia to understand the country's development priorities and identify areas for joint cooperation. She commended the progress of the Cambodian government, especially in industrialization and human resource development, emphasizing the importance of equipping the workforce with relevant skills to meet market demands. She further explained that Brazil's S-System is a long-standing vocational training model supported by employer contributions, focusing on developing skills aligned with labor market needs. She proposed sharing Brazil's experience and expertise with Cambodia to support TVET development, capacity building, and other priority sectors, reaffirming Brazil's readiness to provide technical cooperation in line with the Cambodian government's development priorities.