Cambodia and Brazil Strengthen Bilateral Ties in Labor, Social Security, and Vocational Training

Phnom Penh – Heng Sour, Minister of Labor and Vocational Training, held a cordial meeting with H.E. Vivian Loss Sanmartin, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil to Cambodia, on the afternoon of July 24, 2026, at the Ministry's premises. The meeting aimed to strengthen friendship and bilateral relations between Cambodia and Brazil, discussing the possibilities of enhancing cooperation in the fields of labor, social security, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET), as well as identifying priority areas and mechanisms for future bilateral cooperation. On this occasion, the Minister warmly welcomed H.E. Vivian Loss Sanmartin and her delegation, and congratulated 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 relations between the two countries. He expressed his firm belief that her tenure will serve as a crucial bridge in reinforcing Cambodia-Brazil relations and opening doors to new cooperation in all sectors, not just labor, social security, and TVET. The Minister 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. He also affirmed Cambodia's commitment to ensuring that foreign workers, including Brazilians, receive protection, equality, and social security benefits (B.O.R.S.) in accordance with Cambodian laws and regulations. With an interest in the TVET system, particularly the S-System, he raised the possibility of cooperation in training master trainers, developing TVET institutional capacity, curriculum development, work-based learning programs, and the processing of agricultural products and agricultural technology. The Minister affirmed Cambodia's readiness to cooperate closely with the Brazilian Embassy to strengthen practical, mutually beneficial cooperation. He expressed his strong hope that Cambodia and Brazil will work even more closely to transform these initial discussions into concrete cooperation for the benefit of the citizens, training institutions, and employers of both countries. In response, H.E. Vivian Loss Sanmartin expressed her sincere gratitude to the Minister for the warm welcome and the fruitful discussion. She highlighted Cambodia's long-term vision for development. She also expressed her pleasure and pride in being appointed as the first Brazilian Ambassador to Cambodia, creating a new history for Cambodia-Brazil cooperation, and reiterated Brazil's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Cambodia. She stated that one of her key priorities is to meet with leaders and relevant institutions in Cambodia to understand Cambodia's development priorities and identify areas for joint cooperation. She also 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. Ambassador Sanmartin continued that Brazil's S-System is a vocational training model with a long history, supported by employer contributions and focused 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, and reaffirmed Brazil's readiness to provide technical cooperation in line with the Cambodian government's development priorities.