Background
The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) is the government agency responsible for setting vocational education standards and coordinating technical and vocational education and training (TVET) across public and private providers in Cambodia. Technical and vocational education and training systems in Cambodia combine competency-based curricula, workplace training, and government-industry partnerships to align workforce skills with sector needs.
On 15 June 2026, MLVT hosted an event at the Koh Pich Exhibition and Convention Centre where the Chinese ambassador Wang Wenbin presented a donated copy of China’s national occupational standards for occupations, and MLVT and BYD Cambodia Co., Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on TVET cooperation. The MoU was signed by State Secretary Chea Kosal for MLVT and Xiao Haiping for BYD, with Minister Heng Sour and Ambassador Wang Wenbin attending.
Key Developments
The event combined a formal handover of the “China National Occupational Standards” package from China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security with a bilateral MoU between MLVT and BYD Cambodia Co., Ltd. The MoU sets out collaborative activities focused on technical and vocational education for the automotive sector, especially new energy vehicles (NEV), and includes commitments on curriculum development, training programs, and practical workplace training.
Institutional Role
Under the agreement, MLVT is positioned to coordinate curriculum adaptation, accreditation alignment, and the integration of industry-led training into Cambodia’s TVET framework, while BYD will provide industry inputs such as technical guidance, training placements, and equipment support. The cooperation specifies development of specialised training centres, laboratories, and instructor capacity-building to support NEV-related competencies and advanced manufacturing skills.
Market Impact
The MoU is designed to prepare technicians and graduates for employment opportunities in Cambodia’s expanding NEV value chain by aligning training outputs with employer requirements in the automotive and green-technology sectors. The partnership also emphasises digital, smart, and green technologies, technology transfer, and joint research to support workforce readiness for evolving industry demands.
