Labour and Vocational Training Minister Heng Sour has welcomed the launch of the Alumni Federation of Cambodia in Israel (ACI) and the Shalom Club in Cambodia, describing the initiatives as vital bridges for bilateral relations and driving forces for human capital development.
Sour co-chaired the inauguration ceremony with Rami Teplitskiy, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Israel, in Phnom Penh yesterday. The event brought together ministry officials, diplomatic representatives, members of the Cambodia-Israel Chamber of Commerce and alumni.
The initiatives seek to connect former Cambodian students across professional backgrounds to share expertise while deepening bilateral cooperation in innovation, agriculture, education and vocational training.
Addressing the ceremony, Sour commended ACI, Israel’s MASHAV Agency, the Israeli Embassy and the Cambodia-Israel Chamber of Commerce for organising the event. He said the ACI provides an institutional framework to transform individual skills into strategic national assets, while the Shalom Club connects Cambodia to a global network promoting community-driven initiatives for sustainable growth.
The minister noted that these efforts support Cambodia’s vision of achieving high-income status by 2050. Building on past achievements and an agreement signed in December 2025, at least 2,000 Cambodian workers are expected to participate in employment and training programmes in Israel. These schemes focus on modern agriculture, irrigation systems, greenhouse technology, smart water management and sustainable resource usage.
Sour encouraged alumni to mentor younger generations, assist Cambodian workers seeking employment in Israel and serve as trainers in technical skills, language proficiency and cultural orientation. He expressed confidence that both platforms will foster innovation and long-term institutional cooperation.
Teplitskiy said the initiatives aim to nurture future leaders, improve livelihoods and drive social development. He highlighted human capital, knowledge and innovation as the key resources that enabled Israel’s advancement in technology and water management, principles now being shared through this partnership.AKP
