(Phnom Penh): The Singapore Embassy in Phnom Penh and the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI) launched a five-day training course to strengthen the food-processing and food-safety capabilities of Cambodian government officials.

Held at the Cambodia-Singapore Cooperation Centre (CSCC) in Phnom Penh, the course is the first customised programme delivered at the CSCC, under the Singapore Cooperation Programme.

The five-day programme is attended by 31 participants from MISTI, and the opening ceremony was graced by MISTI Minister Hem Vanndy and Singapore Ambassador to Cambodia Steven Pang.

In his opening remarks, Minister Hem Vanndy shared that the programme would help Cambodia improve food quality, reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen the competitiveness of its food-processing sector.

He noted that food safety and quality are essential not only for protecting consumers, but also for building trust in Cambodian products and expanding their access to regional and international markets, adding that the knowledge gained from this course will support efforts to help Cambodian producers move toward higher standards, greater value addition and more sustainable production.

The training covers good manufacturing practices, food-safety management, post-harvest handling, modern processing and packaging, quality control, sustainability, and the application of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point principles.

The programme reflects growing collaboration between Singapore and Cambodia in the agri-food sector, equipping MISTI officials with knowledge in food safety management systems, food preservation technologies, value addition in food systems, and sustainable food production. It also showcases Singapore's food processing capabilities, and aims to support MISTI in helping local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) develop high-quality, export-ready products.

Over the course of the week, participants will examine international food safety standards, explore key preservation technologies such as thermal and non-thermal processing, and learn how to identify value-added opportunities from local produce.

The programme also covers Singapore's food regulatory and labelling frameworks, providing participants with a comparative perspective on food quality control and compliance between Singapore and Cambodia.

In Ambassador Pang's opening remarks, he highlighted the significance of the customised programme in supporting Cambodia's food processing sector, particularly in strengthening food safety, and sustainable production. He noted that the programme would provide participants with practical insights into food safety management, processing and preservation technologies, and Singapore's food regulatory and labelling frameworks.

Ambassador Pang also highlighted the longstanding partnership between Singapore and Cambodia, in capacity building which have benefited more than 19,00 Cambodian government officials to date. He highlighted the programme as a new milestone and expressed hope that it would pave the way for more customised collaborations with Cambodian ministries and agencies.

CSCC also held the opening ceremony for the Intermediate English Language and Communication Skills course on 17 August 2026, reflecting the continued breadth of capacity-building programmes offered as part of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration under the Singapore Cooperation Programme. Conducted from 17 August to 4 September, the course is attended by 25 officials from the Royal Government of Cambodia.

About the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI)
The Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) was launched in 2000 by then Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, with the aim of narrowing the development gap within ASEAN and supporting the newer member states Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam (CLMV) in their integration into the regional community.

The Cambodia-Singapore Cooperation Centre (CSCC) serves as the key platform through which Singapore delivers IAI programmes to Cambodian government officials.

About the Cambodia-Singapore Cooperation Centre (CSCC)
The Cambodia-Singapore Cooperation Centre (CSCC) was established as the Cambodia-Singapore Training Centre (CSTC) in 2002, following the launch of the IAI. In 2018, the Centre was upgraded to the CSCC to further enhance the range and quality of its capacity-building programmes.

The CSCC is situated at the iCON Building in Phnom Penh and serves as a dedicated platform that supports capacity-building, facilitates knowledge exchange, and strengthens people-to-people ties between Singapore and Cambodia. To date, more than 19,000 Cambodian government officials have benefitted from the Centre's programmes.
=FRESH NEWS

H.E. Hem Vanndy and Singapore Ambassador Steven Pang are welcomed by participants at the opening ceremony of the customised Food Processing and Safety course at CSCC.

H.E. Hem Vanndy and Singapore Ambassador Steven Pang join participants at the opening ceremony of the customised Food Processing and Safety course at CSCC.

Singapore Ambassador Steven Pang briefs H.E. Hem Vanndy on CSCC’s training programmes and initiatives.

H.E. Hem Vanndy and Singapore Ambassador Steven Pang with participants of the Food Processing and Safety and Intermediate English Language and Communication Skills courses at CSCC.