On 21 February 2025, the Singapore Embassy hosted its first-ever Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) alumni night, welcoming over 60 distinguished alumni members. The event is part of a lineup of activities to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Cambodia.
Ambassador Teo Lay Cheng expressed appreciation for the strong turnout. In her opening remarks, she said, “It is truly heartening to stand before such a distinguished and diverse gathering of SCP alumni. Our illustrious gathering tonight reminds me of a great tree, while the massive tree has branches growing in its own directions, they are deeply buttressed by shared roots. Those roots are the friendships, knowledge, and values nurtured through the SCP.” Highlighting the SCP’s role as a platform for collaboration and learning, Ambassador Teo shared that since its launch in 1992, the Programme has trained over 155,000 participants worldwide, including more than 19,800 Cambodian officials. She reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to supporting Cambodia’s growth journey, adding, “As Cambodia continues to grow and thrive, Singapore remains a steadfast partner. We look forward to deepening our cooperation, creating new opportunities, and celebrating many more milestones together”. Highlighting the significance of the event, Ambassador Teo also said, “This is the first time the Embassy is hosting the SCP Alumni. The event is especially significant as it is taking place this year which marks six decades of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Cambodia”.
SCP alumni Dok Phiwath, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Commerce, reflected on his experience attending an SCP workshop on competition law and micro, small & medium enterprises growth, describing the insights gained as “highly valuable.” San Keonimol, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the SCP “has been an invaluable platform for learning and collaboration”, allowing her to gain fresh perspectives from course participants around the world.
For over three decades, the SCP has been instrumental in strengthening partnerships between Singapore and partner countries. The alumni night served both as a reunion and a reaffirmation of the longstanding friendship and shared aspirations between Singapore and Cambodia.
