Hospitality Kampuchea (HoKa), a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) and Swisscontact Cambodia, has successfully trained 4,556 tourism professionals, including 2,619 women, during its second phase. The training spanned across 12 provinces, aiming to bolster the tourism sector’s workforce. This achievement was announced during the HoKa Skills Days 2024 event, under the theme ‘Tourism Investment, Human Resources Investment’, held at Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel & Residence.
The event was graced by key figures such as Pak Sokhom, Secretary of State of MoT and Chairman of the HoKa Steering Committee, alongside representatives from Swiss and Cambodian agencies committed to economic development and vocational training. Sokhom revealed that the project aligns with a memorandum of understanding signed on August 05, 2020, marking the commencement of the project’s four-year second phase.
The focus of the HoKa project has been on enhancing the quality and productivity of human resources in the tourism sector, adhering to the strategic direction set by the Royal Government of Cambodia. This initiative is part of a broader strategy aiming to train 1.5 million individuals nationwide, emphasizing the importance of skills development for the youths. The inclusion of two new provinces, Kos Kong and Kampong Chhang, has expanded the project’s reach, reflecting its growing impact.
The latest HoKa Skills Days event showcased unique activities, such as competitions in latte art and red wine service, designed to motivate and reward the young talents emerging from the project’s training programs. These initiatives underscore the project’s commitment to nurturing skilled professionals capable of contributing significantly to the tourism industry.
Christian Volker Ide, leader of the Skill Development Programmes (SDP) team, highlighted that the HoKa project has evolved into a crucial tool for the reskilling and upskilling of hospitality workers in Cambodia. He underlined the comprehensive approach taken by the program, which incorporates a wide array of stakeholders from the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem to ensure a holistic and inclusive development of workforce skills.
The program’s system design and multifaceted approach enable the collaboration among job centers, training providers, associations, chambers, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within the hospitality sector and beyond. This inclusive strategy is aimed at creating a vibrant and skilled workforce ready to meet the demands of today’s and tomorrow’s tourism industry.
SDC’s Head, speaking to media, shed light on the overarching goals of the Mekong Region Cooperation Programme. This initiative, spanning Cambodia and Lao PDR, is dedicated to fostering inclusive economic development with a strong emphasis on skills training. The ultimate goal is to prepare Cambodian youths for the workforce by providing them with the necessary training and certification, thereby enhancing their employability and opportunity for a brighter future through respectable employment.
Overall, the HoKa project and similar initiatives underscore the collaborative effort between governmental and non-governmental organizations to empower the Cambodian youth by equipping them with vital skills. This commitment not only strengthens Cambodia’s tourism sector but also contributes to the socio-economic advancement of the nation.
Source: Khmer Times
