Phnom Penh, 12 March 2024: Today, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen, representatives from the EU Member States and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Hangchuon Naron have launched the EU’s Global Gateway Flagship project “Education for green and digital jobs”, which will attract much needed investments for the Cambodian youth.
Promoted by the EU and its member states, the Global Gateway Flagship “Education for green and digital jobs” will train cohorts of middle-to high-level professional technicians with the skills needed by Cambodia industrial policy objectives. Investments will be around resilient infrastructure, research and knowledge, people-to-people exchanges with Europe, rights-based policy reforms, private sector engagement. University students will receive scholarships for STEM subjects in Cambodia (including energy) from government-led sustainable funding.
Cambodia came a long way in its development path, lifting millions of people out of poverty over the past two decades. With the upcoming graduation from Least Developed Country status, Cambodia has now come to a critical juncture. The European Union is committed to its partnership with Cambodia to accompany its transition to middle-income country.
The European Commissioner, who is a former teacher and youth activist said: “Education is a key investment into a brighter future. The goal of this program is to ensure that Cambodian youth remain curious, open-minded, resilient and passionate for new discoveries. I am convinced that this is the best path to ensure a sustainable development of the country.”
H.E. Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport of Cambodia added: “I am confident that these investments in education, skills and research can also attract more European companies to offer high-quality jobs to Cambodian citizens for the green and digital development of the country”.
The European Commissioner, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Representatives of the EU Member States of the Czech Republic, France and Hungary visited together the Chumpou Voan general and technical high school and interacted with students and teachers on the importance to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) and mixing education with practice, via work-based learning.
The European Commissioner has selected Cambodia as the first country to visit in South East Asia. Her interaction with the Cambodian government, youth and civil society represents an opportunity to take stock of the long-standing cooperation between Europe and Cambodia and to launch new initiatives to promote investments in partnerships with the EU.
