The Techo Sen Institute of Public Works and Transport (TSI) announced the launch of a capacity building project on road maintenance methods to improve sustainable infrastructure in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, with the expectation that the project will provide an opportunity for the three countries to share experiences and strengthen capacities in training and job performance.

The announcement was made on January 17 at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport during a virtual meeting attended by officials from the public works departments across the country as well as representatives from Laos and Vietnam.

“This is a project focused on strengthening the technical capacity of relevant officials and skilled workers through a road maintenance training programme in order to improve the quality of infrastructure in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, as well as to promote the importance of road maintenance to the public,” the ministry said in a Facebook post.

The road maintenance capacity building project was implemented by the teacher training department of TSI and the project was funded by the Mekong-Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund through the Mekong Institute for the next 18 months.

The ministry that the road maintenance training programme will follow a newly designed and unique curriculum in Cambodia that is a well-structured study programme and was designed to train target trainees from the three countries – Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam – to develop specific technical expertise and advance the modernisation of road maintenance.

It said the training programme will be implemented through direct and indirect training with online programmes, workshops and hands-on sessions at construction sites to ensure that the target trainees from the three countries benefit from it, especially the use of the learning management system that will help trainees learn from home.

TSI director Hoeun Samneang said an active effort to build and improve road infrastructure for the transport sector in Cambodia was crucial because upgrading the Kingdom’s important economic arteries would help with expanding the national economy.

“This effort also reflects the desire of the leaders who want this generation and the next generation of Khmer children to know how to build quality roads, bridges and public infrastructure and more effectively promote the development of the transport and logisitics sectors in the motherland,” he said.

Ministry secretary of state Im Nithara said this new programme from TSI was developed through assistance from the Mekong-Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund and they would build the capacity of technicians, relevant officials and construction workers through the road maintenance training programme.

She added that the training contributed to improvements in sustainable infrastructure for not only Cambodia, but also for Vietnam and Laos. All three nations would be able to strengthen their capacities and share experiences in assessing training needs, developing the training programme and doing exchange study tours.