Phnom Penh (FN), Sep. 23 – Cambodian Foreign Minister Sok Chenda Sophea opened a three-day training course on Cambodian foods at the National Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations on 19 September 2024. The course, “Cambodian Culinary Diplomacy: Promoting Friendship and Cooperation Through Foods”, has been co-organised by the institute and the Asia Foundation. Members of foreign diplomatic missions and international organisations are taking part in the program in Phnom Penh and Kampot Province with senior ministry officials.

“The course, an initiative of the foreign minister, seeks to promote Khmer foods by offering foreign diplomats the chance to experience first-hand how to prepare local dishes. It also aims to broaden international awareness of Cambodia's sophisticated and unique food culture-and the countless legacies of thousand-year-old culinary heritage,” according to the letter seen by Fresh News on Monday (Sep. 23).

Minister Sok Chenda Sophea told the opening ceremony that the course symbolised the Royal Government's efforts to promote Cambodian foods as part of its economic diplomacy. "To promote sustainable development, our ministry launched its Economic Diplomacy Strategy in 2021," he said. "The strategy aims to enhance our status on the world stage under the Royal Government's vision of Cambodia becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income one by 2050."

The trainers are two renowned chefs - Ros Rotanak, better known as Chef Nak, and Oknha Luu Meng. The program features a trip to Kampot Province and a briefing by the provincial governor Mao Thonin, about Kampot's investment potential in sectors like agriculture and tourism. Kampot is internationally renowned for its pepper and the natural beauty of Bokor Mountain.

Ouk Sorphorn, Under Secretary of State, accompanied participants to the province.”
=FRESH NEWS