The UN in Cambodia pledged to continue its support for the government’s ambitions to turn Cambodia into an upper-middle income country by 2030 and a high-income one by 2050. They are also committed to cooperating on labour and vocational training.

The pledge came at a December 15 meeting between Minister of Labour and Vocational Training Ith Samheng and UN resident coordinator Joseph Scheuer.

At the meeting, Samheng expressed his hopes that Scheuer and his colleagues will continue to cooperate the government, especially with the labour ministry, to stimulate the growth of the Cambodian economy.

Scheuer was director of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to Cambodia from 2007-2010 and has just returned to the Kingdom.

“We thank the UN for assisting Cambodia during the Covid-19 pandemic, with vaccines and medical equipment. It is continuing to support our post-pandemic economic recovery,” added Samheng .

Scheuer congratulated the government on its success dealing with the virus.

“We will continue to support the ambitious goals of the Cambodian government. The UN intends to create a cooperative framework with the Cambodian government for 2024-2028, strengthening the Cambodia-UN partnership,” he said.

Both parties exchanged positive views on the UN’s ambition to achieve its sustainable development goals (SDGs), as well as Cambodia’s plans to increase its income rating.

They agreed to focus on three major projects – the Decent Employment for Youth (DEY) programme, road traffic safety and worker transport, and the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions.

The DEY is a joint project between the government and the UN, with Samheng and Scheuer as co-directors. A meeting of the projects board of directors is expected early next year.

The ministry said a UN envoy will pay a formal visit to Cambodia soon to discuss the work.