By Ek Tha
PHNOM PENH, February 3, 2013 (PRU) –
Deputy Prime Minister His Excellency Dr. Sok An told an Indian Minister on
Sunday that Cambodia has been taking efforts in improving its human resources
in a move that supports the growing demand of labor market from both the public
and private sectors to hire local employees in the various sectors that play
key roles in the country’s economic development.
Both sides are pleased with the fruitful
bilateral cooperation since the resumption of diplomatic ties in 1981 that also
paved the way for the development of economic, cultural, educational and
vocational training cooperation as well as in the regional context of the ten-country
bloc of Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
New Delhi also lauded the ASEAN-India
relationship and this was possible thanks to Cambodia who had played a key role
as a country coordinator for ASEAN-India partnership.
His Excellency Dr. Sok An told the
Indian Minister of India’s human resource development minister, Dr. M.
Mangapati Pallam Raju, that Cambodia is seeking more assistance from New Delhi
to train young Cambodians in the areas of accountancy, engineering, and
other useful skills that support the growing demand of foreign direct
investment (FDI).
The two-way trade between Cambodia and
India amounted to $86 million in 2011. It was $74 million in 2010.
“The number of young generation is
growing and we are seeking ways on how to transform them to be good human
resources that answer the needs of public and private investment,” His
Excellency Dr. Sok An said.
Cambodia has set up the National
Employment Agency (NEA) in 2009, as a Special Operating Agency under the
jurisdiction of National Training Board headed by His Excellency Dr. Sok An.
NEA’s main purpose is to effectively and efficiently provide quality Employment
and Labour Market Information services to job seekers, employees, employers,
training providers, and the general public.
Both sides also discussed about
Cambodia’s vocational training in which India looks to have more cooperation
with Cambodia in the field.
Indian Minister Dr. M. Mangapati Pallam
Raju said he would look to have either 6 months exchange program or the whole
course.
National ICT Development Authority
(NiDA), in collaboration with Indian computer trainers, has established three
Human Capacity building centers in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville.
His Excellency Dr. Sok An, who was a
Cambodian ambassador to India in the 1980s, and is now Minister in Charge of
the Office of the Council of Ministers also thanked India for restoring
Cambodia’s Ta Prohm built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early
13th centuries.
India announced last year that it will
renovate and restore another temple -- Preah Khan in Kompong Svay, 100 km to
the east of Angkor.
His Excellency Dr. Sok An also recalled
Angkor was first inscribed on the World Heritage in Danger List in 1992, and in
1993 the International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and
Development of the Historic Site of Angkor (ICC-Angkor) was established to
protect, preserve and develop this vast cultural heritage site.
The ICC-Angkor was set up in the wake of
the Tokyo Conference in 1993 and confirmed by the Paris Conference in 2003. The
Cambodia’s 900-year old Temple of Preah Vihear Temple was listed, in 2008 as a
World Heritage Site, by U.N. cultural agency of UNESCO.
H.E. Dr. Sok An recalled the ICC-Angkor
and the Royal Government of Cambodia has received assistance from and
cooperated closely with 17 countries and 27 international institutions in
implementing an estimated 70 projects for the preservation and development of
the Angkor World Heritage Site, including the Angkor Wat Temple.
“ICC-Angkor has been considered by
UNESCO as model to apply in other countries,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
H. E Dr. Sok An also highlighted
Cambodia’s image at the international arena including the most recent prime
example of cultural aspect that the country has His Excellency Dr. Sok An as
Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee (WHC). Cambodia is to host the 37th
session of WHC in June 2013 in Phnom Penh and in Siem Reap, the home of Angkor.