Encouraging Foreign Talent will Play a Key Role in the Post-Pandemic Growth

Narath CHHEAV, Managing Director of CoGen Consulting Group, Board Member & Chairman of HR Committee at EuroCham Cambodia and Senior Advisor to Mett Yeung Association told Cambodia Investment Review that foreign talent has a uniquely positive impact given the current demographic of the Khmer workforce.

Narath CHHEAV​ stated that “Our workforce is relatively young and therefore we are eager to learn new knowledge and skills to develop ourselves. Foreign professionals and foreign investors have been generating significant and positive impacts on the Cambodian workforce and the economy as a whole”. He explained that the sharing and transfer of knowledge and skills – and the jobs created by foreigners in Cambodia – are great examples of how the presence of foreign professionals has been beneficial to the country and its economic and social development. He added, “Foreign professionals who come to live and work in Cambodia bring with them not only technical knowledge and skills but also various management and leadership styles”.

The Cambodian government has done a hugely successful job of making fertile ground for foreign talent and investment within the Kingdom. Now, key stakeholders in Cambodia’s business community say that while Cambodia leads the way regionally in the post-Covid era, attracting and harnessing foreign talent will be a key element in seeing the resumption of impressive pre-pandemic growth levels moving forward.

Soreasmey Ke BIN, Chairman of the French Cambodian Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Confluences Market Access also stated that foreign talent remains interlinked with Cambodia’s future.

Soreasmey said “If we want our economy to grow faster, we need more talent. Whether that comes locally, through expatriates, or from Cambodians overseas”. He added that, “I believe the [foreign talent] contribution has been and will be significant in many if not all sectors. The Cambodian market definitely needs more ex-pats both to create new businesses and to join existing companies”.

Although Soreasmey reflected that while different inbound nationalities have brought varied sector interests, an important element of the migration is how complimentary ex-pats and the local workforce are working together. He stated that, “Hosting and harnessing ex-pat business communities is key in attracting and retaining foreign talents. I believe the multinational chambers of commerce established here have done a tremendous job in keeping our business communities alive and united, especially during the darkest hours of COVID. Coupled with the good management of the pandemic by the Cambodian government and also by the community itself gives even more reason for foreign talents to consider Cambodia as their next place to work”.

Josh DOWNS, Co-founder of Cambodian-based HR solutions company Next Step International told Cambodia Investment Review that while foreigner workers remain at around 80,000 to 100,000 – some 0.6% of the population – the country’s favorable conditions and growth will continue to put Cambodia on the map as a destination to live and work.

“We foresee a big opportunity for both recruiters and international talent coming to Cambodia. While the pandemic will play a factor, Cambodia’s aim for graduation from an LDC within the next five years is evidence of an ambitious economy. This will be attractive to international talent for a multitude of reasons, notwithstanding its aim for upper-middle income status by 2030,” Downs stated.

Downs explained that a natural bi-product of economic growth is job creation, and effective recruitment of global talent will not only help businesses optimize productivity and performance but help upskill local talent to meet emerging sector demands.