France helps to expand hotel and restaurant school in Siem Reap

Tin Sokhavuth



Agence Française de Développement (AFD) signed an agreement with the French NGO "Agir pour le Cambodge" on Monday, in Siem Reap City, to give EUR 50,000 to the NGO.

The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Mr. Jean-Claude POIMBOEUF, French Ambassador to Cambodia, and representatives from different French NGOs and companies.

In his speech, Ambassador Jean-Claude POIMBOEUF pointed out that this financial aid is to help Agir pour le Cambodge (APLC) to be able to train 150 students a year in 2018-2019 - 50 more students than the current training class.

Ambassador Jean-Claude POIMBOEUF added that for the last 14 years, more than 1,300 students from poor family nationwide, among them 70% were girls, received high quality professional training in the field of hotel and restaurant from the school created by APLC. The diploma from this school is recognized by the Cambodian Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and the Ministry of Tourism.

Mr. POIMBOEUF also said that besides vocational training, through AFD's financial aid, APLC's school called "SALA BAI" will be able to expand it dormitory so that 150 more students could stay comfortably and safely in the dormitory by the end of 2017.

Sala Baï is a Hotel and Restaurant School created by the French NGO “Agir Pour Le Cambodge” in October 2002. To enroll in the school's training program, students have to be between 17 and 23 years old. And they must finish at least grade 6. Priority is given to female candidates.

The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) opened its office in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, in September 1993. Today, the AFD intervenes in the field of agriculture and agro-industry; infrastructure; productive sector; vocational training. Since 1993, the AFD has provided funding for more than €360 million for all projects in Cambodia including guaranty’s scheme to commercial banks, support to NGOs and regional projects.

According to the AFD, at the present time, the most important economic pillars in Cambodia are agriculture, garment industry, construction, and tourism. Despite the remarkable economic development based on these three pillars, most Cambodian people do not gain much benefit from this progress and one can see a two speed development between Phnom Penh and the country side. Tangibly, in 2015, the GDP per capita is close to $1,200 whilethe ceiling adopted for least developed countries is about $1,094.6.