(Phnom Penh): The Singapore Embassy hosted the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) Leaders Night, which was attended by over 150 Cambodian leaders and senior government officials who have attended the SCP on Tuesday (May. 26).
The event marked a significant milestone in the longstanding partnership between Singapore and Cambodia and celebrated the contributions of the SCP to Cambodia's development.
In his opening remarks, Singapore Ambassador to Cambodia Steven Pang pointed out that the SCP, which was established in 1992, is one of Singapore's most enduring instruments of technical cooperation and development partnership. It has engaged over 19,000 Cambodian government officials in capacity-building across disciplines ranging from public administration to digital transformation.
Ambassador Pang reaffirmed Singapore's commitment to supporting Cambodia's development journey and Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia's Pentagonal Strategy Phase I. He noted that Singapore first established the Cambodia-Singapore Training Centre in Phnom Penh in 2002 under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration, initially focusing on foundational skill training such as English language courses and IT skills.
In 2018, the Centre was upgraded to become the Cambodia-Singapore Cooperation Centre (CSCC) - the first Singapore Cooperation Centre in the region. Today, the CSCC is a dedicated platform fully funded by the Singapore Government to develop human capital, facilitate knowledge exchange, and strengthen people-to-people ties between Singapore and Cambodia.
Reflecting Cambodia's evolving needs, the courses cover a wide range of topics, including using technology to promote food security, strengthening the resilience of the public health system and promoting innovation in public governance.
Ambassador Pang highlighted that while Singapore continues to host study visits and training programmes for Cambodian officials, the CSCC provides another platform to complement Singapore's development assistance to Cambodia. This partnership in capacity-building will continue to provide a strong foundation for the enduring friendship between the two countries.
Samheng Bora, Secretary of State from the Ministry of Commerce, who attended the 14th Leaders in Governance Programme hosted by Singapore, shared: The programme was an eye-opening experience. We were brought together with high-level government officials from across the world, not just ASEAN members states, which made for a truly enriching exchange of best practices.
The exchange of best practices was particularly valuable, from the sharing experiences with fellow participants to gaining into what Singapore has to offer.
Chhour Sopannha, Secretary of State from the Ministry of Cult and Religion added: I would like to express my deep appreciation to the Singapore Government for the cooperation between Singapore and Cambodia. The courses offered by the Singapore Cooperation Programme have proven invaluable as Cambodia strives to strengthen its human capital.
Strength lies not only in knowledge, but in the ability to learn from each other and channel it effectively.
From my experience, Singapore's approach to racial and religious harmony has also left a strong impression on me. I firmly believe in the continuation of this programme as an investment in Cambodia's next generation, equipping them to thrive in an era of advancing technology.
It was remarkable to see how committed Singapore's leaders were in sharing their expertise with us. I was particularly inspired by Singapore's strategic approach to governance. Singapore's deliberate focus on long-term planning and sustainable development is something I look forward to learning from.
The Leaders Night served both as a reunion for the SCP Leaders and a reaffirmation of the longstanding friendship and shared aspirations between Singapore and Cambodia.
About the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP)
The Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) was established in 1992 as a platform for Singapore to share its development experience and support fellow developing nations. Over the past three decades, it has grown into one of Singapore's most enduring instruments of technical cooperation and development partnership, having trained over 160,000 participants worldwide.
About the Cambodia-Singapore Cooperation Centre (CSCC)
The Cambodia-Singapore Cooperation Centre (CSCC) was established as the Cambodia-Singapore Training Centre (CSTC) in 2002 under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration.
Upgraded in 2018 to a full Cooperation Centre, the CSCC is a dedicated platform that supports capacity-building, facilitates knowledge exchange, and strengthens people-to-people ties between Singapore and Cambodia. To date, more than 19,000 Cambodian government officials have benefited from the Centre's programmes.
=FRESH NEWS
Ambassador Steven Pang delivered opening remarks at the Singapore Cooperation Programme Leaders Night
Distinguished guests attended Singapore Cooperation Programme Leaders Night
Ambassador Steven Pang and distinguished guests at the Singapore Cooperation Programme Leaders Night
