Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron and French ambassador Jacques Pellet on March 22. MoEYS
Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron stated that proficiency in French fosters innovative thinking among Cambodian students in the context of an increasingly competitive labour market, both domestically and globally.
He expressed these views during the 2024 International Francophonie Day event, themed “Innovation, promotion and entrepreneurship through the French language”, held in Phnom Penh on March 22.
The event was attended by French ambassador to Cambodia Jacques Pellet along with national and international guests, leaders, diplomats, government officials, teachers and approximately 2,000 students, as reported on the ministry’s social media.
Chuon Naron highlighted the day as an annual celebration acknowledging the significant role of the French language in Cambodia.
The event was organised in collaboration with development partners (DPs) such as the French embassy in Phnom Penh, the Association of Francophone Universities (AUF) and the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).
The minister added that French, with its rich cultural associations, stimulates innovative ideas in Cambodian students, particularly promoting innovation and entrepreneurship among youth.
He said this is particularly pertinent given the competitive nature of the labour market in Cambodia and beyond.
“Knowing one language is not enough in this competitive age. Learning an additional language can open up more opportunities. For this reason, French-speaking students may have better job prospects … as well as opportunities for international scholarships like the Eiffel, Erasmus and Canadian Francophonie Scholarships, as well as those from the French government,” he stated.
The ministry also noted that 2024 marks the 54th anniversary of the founding of OIF.
In line with the 2024 theme, French language schools celebrated the day with a variety of performances, including traditional and folk dances, contemporary songs, creative acts, rhetoric competitions and French short story performances at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) in the capital’s Tuol Kork district.
The Siem Reap Provincial Administration announced that 88 countries will attend the 20th Francophonie Summit in 2026. It said an inter-ministerial meeting, chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sok Chenda Sophea, was convened to discuss preparations for the event.
“The meeting deliberated and established principles for the [summit], scheduled for October or November 2026. The summit will host 88 countries, including 54 member states, 27 observers and seven participants,” it said.
“The event presents an important opportunity for Cambodia across various sectors such as economy, society, family life, private sector, tourism, culture, environment and diplomacy,” it added.
The OIF was founded on March 20, 1970, by initiators including the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk, then-Senegalese President Leopold Sedar Senghor and his Tunisian and Nigerian counterparts: Habib Bourguiba and Hamani Diori.
The Kingdom became a member of the organisation in 1991.
