The Cambodian-Japan Cooperation Center (CJCC) has played a pivotal role in developing human capital for the Kingdom’s fast-growing economy and has trained about 25,000 since its inception in 2004.

“Through our activities like human resource development, we have trained (Cambodians) and some of them are actively engaged in the business sector."

“Besides providing training courses, we also work together with other companies and through our training, we invite them to share their business experiences with our trainees. Those who have completed the training here have started their own business,” CJCC’s director Khim Leang told The Post.

CJCC focuses on three key objectives – human resource development, Japanese language training and culture and education exchange programs – as part of its role in promoting bilateral ties between Cambodia and Japan.

The organisation is supported by both the Cambodian government, through the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and the Japanese government, which is represented by Japan International Cooperation Agency and Japan Foundation.

“For business training, CJCC has trained about 25,000 trainees, approximately 10,000 students for Japanese language and for cultural exchange program, we have received a lot of students from Japan."

“They (students) focus on culture and education programs. They visited various universities and high schools in Cambodia. For business training, we cover a lot of topics both hard skills and soft skills, like leadership and entrepreneurship courses, which are the main courses offered in CJCC,” added Leang.

In addition, CJCC provides networking space for start-ups and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

“Since its establishment, CJCC has gone from strength to strength, fostering entrepreneurship and SMEs in Cambodia through developing highly skilled and market-oriented human resources.”

He added that entrepreneurship courses include Japanese-style management, such as leadership, time management, finance and corporate management – all relevant for the growing Cambodian economy.

“In Cambodia, especially in [the] manufacturing industry we lag behind. So, in order to boost the economic growth, first we need to have strong human resources, especially for SMEs, and entrepreneurial (sector)."

“We have SMEs [in Cambodia], but more operate like a family business and they don’t really have proper business structure. So CJCC plays an important role in developing human resource, especially entrepreneurship. Some have even established similar training institutions like CJCC,” added Leang.

He said one of the major challenges facing CJCC at the moment was in attracting participants for its courses because students have multiple options now as more institutions have mushroomed in the capital.

Besides training courses, CJCC also tries to link up Cambodian and Japanese businessmen, as more investors from Japan are exploring the kingdom for business opportunities.

“We have also established the Cambodia-Japan Association for Business and Investment (CJBI). CJBI aims to bring together executives in diverse businesses background and enhances business capacity through networking,” he added.

To promote Japanese cultural and language, the centre hosts two festivals every year–the Kizuna Festival and the Tanabata Festival.

The Kizuna Festival aims to introduce Japanese and Cambodian traditional and modern cultures, and promote cultural exchanges between people of the two nations.

This year, the event will be held from February 21-24 under the theme of “Experience Together”.

While the Tanabata Festival, mostly concentrates on Japanese culture such as karate lessons, floral arrangement, Yukata Wearing Session and Japanese cuisine.

CJCC, based at the Royal Phnom Penh University campus, employs around 70 staff, including seven Japanese.

There are more than 300 Japanese companies registered in the Kingdom and about 2,000 Japanese citizens are working in Cambodia at present.