The Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI), through the General Department of Science, Technology & Innovation (GDSTI), organised a dissemination workshop on the “Guidelines on Talent Attraction and Retention: A Guideline for Cambodia” at the ministry, aiming to raise awareness of the guidelines among ministries, government institutions and relevant stakeholders.

The workshop was held amid increasing competition in the knowledge-based economy, advances in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the rapid development of science, technology and innovation. These developments have made human resources equipped with knowledge, skills, capabilities and innovative thinking a key factor in national development and competitiveness.

Speaking at the event, Hul Seingheng, Undersecretary of State at MISTI, underscored the vital role of human capital in advancing Cambodia’s sustainable development.

“Human capital is a key driving force and the foundation of national development. A country may possess natural resources, infrastructure and modern technology, but without people equipped with knowledge, skills, capabilities and creative ideas, its development cannot be sustainable,” Seingheng said.

He added that, in the context of the knowledge-based economy, competition among countries no longer depends solely on financial or natural resources, but increasingly on their ability to attract, develop and retain talented individuals.

The guidelines have been developed to provide a framework, concepts and strategic directions for talent management in Cambodia and to support the development of an enabling ecosystem capable of attracting scientists, researchers, experts, capable young people and talented individuals from both within Cambodia and abroad.

They also focus on establishing collaborative mechanisms among the Royal Government, academic institutions, research institutions, the private sector and international partners to expand opportunities for talented individuals to study, conduct research, work and contribute to Cambodia’s socio-economic development.

Among the mechanisms highlighted is the Talent Attraction initiative, guided by Cambodia’s STI Roadmap 2030, which aims to attract talented individuals from abroad to study, conduct research, work and share their experience in Cambodia.

Meanwhile, Talent Retention aims to provide Cambodian students and capable individuals with opportunities to study or undertake training abroad, while encouraging them to return and contribute to the country’s development.

Seingheng also emphasised that talent management should be based on transparency, fairness, equal opportunities and recognition of achievements, while creating conditions that allow individuals to pursue professional development, realise their potential and generate new ideas responsibly.

The guidelines also identify several challenges, including insufficient funding for research and innovation, skills gaps, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient incentives, limited employment opportunities and the outflow of capable individuals to other countries. Addressing these challenges requires improvements in the quality of education and vocational training, the promotion of lifelong learning and increased support for research and innovation.

The initiative to develop the guidelines stems from the importance of attracting and retaining talented individuals, particularly in science, technology and innovation, which are identified as priority areas under Cambodia’s Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap 2030. The guidelines were approved by the National Council of Science, Technology and Innovation on December 31, 2025.

Seingheng described the workshop as a platform for open and constructive discussion to identify practical approaches, gather valuable input, improve implementation and develop effective action plans.

“I call on all ministries, institutions, academic institutions, the private sector and relevant partners to continue strengthening collaboration to build a favourable environment in which talented individuals can thrive, realise their potential and contribute to achieving Cambodia’s development vision,” he said.

The workshop also featured a presentation on the “Guidelines on Talent Attraction and Retention: A Guideline for Cambodia”, a roundtable discussion on “Talent and Socio-Economic Development in the Digital Age” and a question-and-answer session.

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