(Battambang): On December 9–10, 2025, with the high-level authorization of H.E. Huot Hak, Minister of Tourism, H.E. Pak Sokhom, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Tourism and Chairman of the HoKa Project Management Committee (HoKa PMC), a high-level delegation co-led the 2nd Skills Development Programme (SDP) Steering Committee Meeting of 2025. The delegation included His Excellency Dr. Hing Sideth, Delegate of the Royal Government in charge as Director General of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) of the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training; Mr. Christian Disler, Deputy Director of Cooperation of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); and Mr. Pius Frick, Representative of the Liechtenstein Development Service (LED).
The meeting, convened at the Battambang Provincial Hall, was attended by approximately 50 participants, including technical officials from the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, representatives from Provincial Training Committees across 12 target provinces, Swisscontact, the International Labour Organization (ILO), committee members, and private sector stakeholders.
This significant platform aimed to achieve the following core objectives:
1. Summarize the achievements, challenges, and lessons learned from the implementation of Phase 2 of the Skills Development Programme in 2025;
2. Assess implementation efficiency based on evaluation reports provided by independent consultants;
3. Conduct site visits to exchange best practices with implementing partners and TVET institutions;
4. Approve strategic directions and action plans for the 2026 implementation cycle to enhance overall effectiveness.
The project donors, SDC and LED, highly commended the robust collaboration between the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, the Ministry of Tourism, and Swisscontact. They noted that the project has been executed with high synergy, contributing significantly to progress in technical and vocational skills development. Furthermore, the initiative aligns with the Royal Government of Cambodia’s strategic goal of providing TVET to 1.5 million youth from poor and vulnerable households under the approach: "Study to know, study to pass, and study to secure employment."
It is noted that the Skills Development Programme (SDP) Phase 3 (2024–2028) is funded by SDC and LED and implemented by Swisscontact in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training. Within this framework, the Ministry of Tourism has implemented the Hospitality Kampuchea (HoKa) training program across 12 target provinces: Kratie, Stung Treng, Preah Vihear, Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, Kampong Chhnang, Koh Kong, Pursat, Battambang, Pailin, Banteay Meanchey, and Oddar Meanchey.
As of the third quarter of 2025, the Ministry of Tourism, through the HoKa PMC, has successfully trained a total of 8,811 individuals—including vulnerable youth, tourism professionals, management staff, and business owners—across eight priority skill areas.
