Phnom Penh (FN), May. 2 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed his intention to transform Cambodia into becoming not only a country that exports raw materials but also a country with the capacity to produce semi-finished and finished products to supply both domestic and export markets, thereby enhancing people's livelihoods.

The premier spoke on Thursday (Apr. 5) during an inauguration of Toyota assembly plant in the Royal Group Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone.

Samdech Thipadei underscored, "We're not merely generating jobs; we're enhancing the productivity and capabilities of our workforce. We're shifting from manual labour-dependent agriculture to mechanized or agro-industrial practices. Our diversification spans manufacturing, tourism, and light industry, paving the way for potential expansion into heavy production as resources permit."

"This strategy ensures sustainability and elevates the living standards of our people. We are no longer solely reliant on exporting raw materials; instead, we possess the capability to produce semi-finished nd finished goods for export, ensuring greater value distribution within Cambodia. We are not merely exporters of raw materials; we also have the capacity to produce and supply our domestic market,” Samdech Thipadei added.

On the occasion, Premier Hun Manet underlined that achieving this goal requires the training of Cambodian human resources. Samdech Thipadei encouraged Toyota to expand its vision by establishing a training centre and offering opportunities for young Cambodians to undergo training or internships at the factory in the short and medium term, thereby enhancing human resources in the automotive industry.

This initiative is being pursued in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, which has been providing skills training for young people. Offering practical learning experiences in a factory equipped with modern machinery is crucial as certain skills cannot be acquired solely through theoretical study, the premier continued.

Samdech Thipadei further added that as Cambodia's human resources become more specialised in the machinery industry in terms of both quantity and quality, it will become increasingly feasible to attract other companies to invest in Cambodia.
=FRESH NEWS