Cambodian trainers advance new electric vehicle skills through South-South Cooperation

PHNOM PENH (ILO News) - Cambodian technical trainers are strengthening their expertise in new electric vehicle (NEV) maintenance through an advanced coaching programme supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO), helping prepare the country's workforce for the growing green mobility sector.

Held from 15 to 17 June 2026 at the Industrial Technical Institute (ITI) in Phnom Penh, the Advanced NEV Maintenance training brought together 30 participants from technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions across Cambodia to strengthen their knowledge and practical competencies in advanced NEV systems. The programme covered topics including electronic stability systems (ESP), hybrid powertrains, and intelligent charging technologies.

The training was jointly organized by the ILO through the ILO/China Partnership Programme on Strengthening Skills Development in ASEAN through South-South Cooperation and the Skill Development Fund (SDF) and delivered by experts from Beijing Industrial Technician College (BITC).

The programme builds on the successful New Energy Vehicle (NEV) Inspection, Maintenance and Repair Programme conducted in Beijing in November 2025, where 30 Cambodian trainers from technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions and industry enterprises received intensive upskilling in emerging EV technologies.

As Cambodia accelerates its transition towards green mobility and seeks to attract investment in NEV manufacturing and services, demand for workers with specialized NEV competencies continues to grow. Recent research conducted by SDF found that more than three-quarters of surveyed enterprises reported high or very high demand for NEV-related skills, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen the country's technical workforce.

"This programme demonstrates the value of South-South Cooperation in helping countries prepare for future labour market demands," said Qian Xiaoyan, Director of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao People's Democratic Republic. "By connecting Cambodian trainers with advanced technical expertise from China, we are supporting the development of a skilled workforce capable of contributing to Cambodia's green and digital economic transformation."

Through South-South Cooperation, the programme forms part of the broader collaboration between the ILO, China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS), SDF, and Cambodian TVET institutions to promote skills development in emerging sectors. Through knowledge exchange, institutional partnerships, and technical cooperation, the initiative aims to equip Cambodia's workforce with the skills needed to respond to technological change and evolving industry requirements.

Through technical lectures, simulations, case studies and hands-on coaching, participants are expected to deliver high-quality NEV training within their own institutions and companies, reinforcing Cambodia's readiness for the rapidly growing NEV industry.

The Advanced NEV Maintenance coaching programme reflects the continued commitment of Cambodia and China to promoting skills development through South-South Cooperation and preparing workers for the opportunities arising from the green transition. The ILO/China Partnership Programme on Strengthening Skills Development in ASEAN through South-South Cooperation supports Cambodia and other countries in the region to strengthen TVET systems, improve workforce competitiveness, and promote decent work through knowledge exchange, institutional partnerships, and capacity development initiatives.