Phnom penh: The European Union (EU) and the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) of Cambodia co-hosted the Closing the Gap Workshop on September 16-17 in Phnom Penh. This event marked a significant activity under the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the workshop brought together over 50 regional stakeholders, including representatives from governments, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, the private sector, and international organizations. Participants hailed from all ten ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste. The primary goal was to better align TVET systems with the labor market needs, particularly in the agri-food sector, which plays a crucial role in driving growth and employment across the ASEAN region.
During the workshop, a new study on the employability of vocational graduates in the agri-food sector in ASEAN was launched. The study provides a current overview of TVET graduate outcomes, showing high employment rates but also highlighting persistent skills mismatches.
H.E. Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, Cambodia, emphasized the importance of this platform for sharing experiences between ASEAN and the EU. He highlighted Cambodia's commitment to strengthening TVET to prepare young people for work in the digital and green economy. He noted that in Cambodia, processing cashew nuts could create over 50,000 additional direct jobs.
H.E. Igor Driesmans, EU Ambassador to Cambodia, underscored Europe's support for job creation in ASEAN, focusing on developing a skilled workforce in the agri-food sector. He expressed the EU's continued support for farmers, producers, and exporters in ASEAN to benefit from European expertise and access to the European market.
The European Union is committed to fostering a resilient, skilled workforce in partnership with ASEAN. As the world's largest trading bloc and the largest donor of Official Development Assistance, the EU aims to uphold stability, democracy, and sustainable development while supporting cultural diversity and individual freedom.