The National Career and Productivity Fair 2023 was hosted recently with the aim of bolstering employment opportunities in Cambodia.

The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training’s National Employment Agency (NEA), along with various partners, including International Labour Organization (ILO) hosted the event from November 10-11 in Phnom Penh, marking a significant effort to connect job seekers with over 20,000 job vacancies across the nation, according to a joint press release.

Recognised as the largest of its kind in the country, the fair aimed to align with the economic trends and emerging skill demands in the country and served as a vital platform for employers, training providers and job seekers to engage in dialogues about skills development and employment opportunities.

It also focused on encouraging knowledge exchange in entrepreneurship development and productivity, supporting the transition towards environmentally sustainable economies.

Labour minister Heng Sour, noted the participation of 150 ministries, companies, education and training establishments, development partners and national and international organizations occupying 188 booths. The entities presented opportunities in diverse sectors such as banking, insurance, retail, tourism, real estate, telecommunications and manufacturing.

In collaboration with the Textile, Apparel, Footwear and Travel Goods Association in Cambodia (TAFTAC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), People in Need (PIN) Cambodia and Swisscontact, a leader in implementing development projects, the event also featured workshops aimed at raising awareness about entrepreneurship and productivity.

Oktavianto Pasaribu, director of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, emphasised the fair’s role in bridging the skills gap in the labour market.

He said the ILO contributed its expertise and facilitated the sharing of practices among countries facing similar challenges, consolidating resources from three projects focused on youth employment, South-South cooperation in ASEAN and skills development in the region funded by various international agencies.

The partnership between the ILO and NEA reflects a concerted effort to shape public policies and promote inclusive, productive employment in the Kingdom’s evolving economic landscape, as per the press release.