AKP Phnom Penh, February 07, 2025 --

A total of 40 Cambodian officials will participate in a specialised training programme on Public Policy and Governance at the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) in Mussoorie, India.

The training, scheduled from Feb. 10 to 21, 2025, is fully funded under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, pointed out a press release from the Embassy of India in Phnom Penh.

This will be the 5th such specialized training course for Cambodia during 2024-25, said the source, adding that the selected participants represent key Cambodian institutions, including the Ministry of Civil Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Office of the Council of Ministers, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, and Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation.

Ahead of their departure, H.E. Vanlalvawna Bawitlung, Ambassador of India to Cambodia, engaged in an interactive session with the participants. H.E. Ambassador underscored the critical role of public policy in fostering good governance. He spoke on the significance of transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance systems and how they contribute to long-term economic growth, social equity, and political stability. He emphasised India's success in strengthening its institutions and implementing large-scale policy reforms to ensure efficient governance across diverse sectors.

H.E. Vanlalvawna Bawitlung also highlighted the importance of international collaboration in addressing common global challenges and urged the participants to apply the knowledge gained during the training to improve governance structures in their respective fields.

H.E. Ambassador mentioned that India instituted the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme in 1964 and it is the leading capacity building platform of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. ITEC is one of the oldest institutionalised arrangements for international capacity building having trained more than 200,000 officials from 160+ countries in both the civilian and in the defence sector.

In concluding his address, he underscored the importance of international partnerships in capacity building. He urged participants to leverage the ITEC platform not only to enhance their professional expertise but also to foster stronger diplomatic and administrative ties between India and Cambodia. Emphasising their pivotal role, he remarked that they are the true ambassadors of India in Cambodia.

According to the press release, capacity building and human resource development are a cornerstone of India-Cambodia cooperation. Since 1981, over 3,000 Cambodian nationals from various ministries, departments, and autonomous bodies—including the National Bank of Cambodia, Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority, Police Academy of Cambodia, and Royal Academy of Cambodia—have benefitted from ITEC training programmes. The Indian Embassy in Phnom Penh has facilitated 37 customised training courses tailored to the specific needs of Cambodian ministries.

A significant milestone in bilateral cooperation was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on April 22, 2024, between the Ministry of Civil Service of Cambodia and the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions of India. This MoU aims to further strengthen collaboration in civil service human resource development and foster dialogue between government agencies of both nations.

The training courses for Cambodian Civil Servants are being led by the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG). In 2024, six batches comprising a total of 240 civil servants from Cambodia availed training in India with the NCGG. The participation has been from officials across various ministries. In 2025, similar number of civil servants are likely to travel to India for the training courses. The NCGG, under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Government of India, is a premier institution dedicated to enhancing the quality of governance. The centre offers specialised training in public administration, governance reforms, and capacity building. The programme at NCGG is designed to provide participants with hands-on exposure to best practices in governance, policy-making, and public service delivery.

By C. Nika