Skills development programme-Phase II for Northeastern provinces launched

The Ministry of Tourism has launched the second phase of Skills Development Programme (SDP) for the northeastern provinces – Kratie, Stung Treng, Preah Vihear, Rattanakiri and Mondulkiri.

The launching ceremony took place in Mondulkiri province late last week in the presence of Pak Sokhom, Secretary of State for Tourism and Head of the Hospitality for Kampuchea (HoKa) Training Programme Management Commission; Mr. Cheak Mengheang, Deputy Governor of Mondulkiri province; and Mr. Christian Volker Ide, Team Leader of SDP at Swisscontact.

The second phase of SDP (2020-2024) will lay stress on tourism vocational training on HoKa for youths so that they can grasp decent job opportunities and improve their living standard, said Mr Sokhom, adding that the programme will also increase human capital in tourism sector while Mondulkiri and other northeastern provinces have seen increase in the number of tourists lately.

For his part, Mr Mengheang lauded the SDP underlining that it gives opportunity for the youths to find job immediately after the training and to start a small business.

According to Mr Volker Ide, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the SDP-Phase II will focus on four key programmes, including capacity building of vocational training centres, innovation lab, full-time training for vulnerable youths, and HoKa.

Under the SDP-Phase II, he pointed out, more than 12,000 people, including vulnerable youths and low-skilled staff will benefit from the four-year programme. C. Nika – AKP