The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Cambodia Office held a pre-departure orientation on September 26 for a group of Cambodian government officials and private sector professionals selected to participate in a specialised training course on intellectual property (IP) and patent recognition. 

The course, titled "Capacity Building for IP and Patent Recognition Programme (PRP) Systems in Cambodia (2023-2025)", will run from October 6-17 in South Korea.

The training initiative is part of KOICA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Cambodia’s economic foundation by developing the expertise of officials from the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, as well as intellectual property agents and officers from the private sector. 

The programme aims to enhance the country’s ability to create, protect and commercialise intellectual property, ultimately boosting innovation-driven business activities, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in both Cambodia and Korea.

KOICA deputy country director Lee Sejin said that the effort is instrumental in promoting sustainable economic growth by empowering the country’s professionals with the skills needed to manage and safeguard intellectual property. 

“We hope this programme will provide a rewarding experience and allow participants to contribute meaningfully to Cambodia’s development upon their return,” said Sejin.

The 2024 initiative will see 20 participants – government officials from the ministry and private sector IP professionals – travel to Korea to gain insights into IP laws, patent systems and commercialisation strategies. This follows the successful completion of the programme's first year, which was conducted in Phnom Penh.

“The pre-departure orientation also brought together participants from three other KOICA global training programmes, which included officials from the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, Ministry of Mines and Energy and Ministry of Economy and Finance,” according to the agency. 

At the orientation, KOICA representatives provided an overview of the training courses, shared useful information about living in Korea and briefed participants on the KOICA Fellowship Programme's guidelines, including the code of conduct on integrity and policies related to harassment.

Participants expressed gratitude to the agency and the Korean government for their support, noting their commitment to leveraging the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the systems. 

The group is expected to play a pivotal role in fostering greater collaboration between Cambodia and Korea, with a particular focus on developing IP-driven business opportunities.

Since its inception in 1994, KOICA’s fellowship programmes have supported the development of 3,773 Cambodian government officers through various endeavours, including country-specific training, global initiatives and scholarships.