Phnom penh: Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Sok Chenda Sophea has urged young people to focus on developing their skills as investors reconsider their activities to keep pace with the evolving economy. 'For many years, Cambodia has had a strong competitive advantage in attracting investment, namely an abundant, young, and affordable labour force,' he told the opening of a National Career and Productivity Day exhibition at Koh Pich on Saturday. 'I understand this attractive factor well, because I was directly involved in attracting investment to Cambodia for some 25 years,' the former Secretary General of the Council for the Development of Cambodia said. But 'what brought investors to Cambodia in the past may not be certain to keep them with us in the future,' he said.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the changing landscape for investors. 'The world has changed, technology has evolved, competition has increased, so investors must also reconsider their future activities or project operations. In this context, affordable wages will lose their attractiveness. Amid intense competition, productivity is becoming the determining factor. Productivity does not mean working more than before. It means working better than before with higher skills, more modern techniques, and more effective management.'

H.E. Sok Chenda Sophea emphasized that skills development has become an integral part of economic policy, aimed at sustainable growth. Addressing young attendees, he urged: 'Please don't just seek jobs. Strive to build your skills to be ever sharper. One day, employers will be the ones coming to seek you out.' He acknowledged efforts by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training to enhance technical and vocational education, aligning education with the labor market, and providing free training to 1.5 million young people from poor families.

The Deputy Prime Minister called for a collective effort, including the private sector, to view training as an investment rather than an expense. He encouraged educational institutions to anticipate future labor market needs. He advised recent high-school graduates to align their studies with their interests and market needs, emphasizing that while diplomas open doors, skills empower them to seize opportunities.

He also offered guidance to those who did not pass the examination, suggesting they explore vocational skills studies as a viable path for their future during the exhibition.