Phnom Penh, December 27, 2024 — Prime Minister Hun Manet welcomed Mr. Murai Yoshihiro, Governor of Miyagi Prefecture and President of the Japan Governors Association, for a courtesy call at the Peace Palace this morning. The discussion centered on enhancing cooperation between Japanese prefectures and Cambodia.

During the meeting, Governor Murai announced the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between Miyagi Prefecture and Cambodia's Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training. This agreement aims to facilitate the sending and receiving of Cambodian interns and skilled workers to Miyagi Prefecture and address labor market needs in both countries through the transfer of technical skills. The Governor expressed confidence that this collaboration would significantly contribute to the development and training of Cambodian human resources in the future.

Additionally, as President of the Japan Governors Association, Governor Murai reaffirmed his commitment to fostering cooperation between Japanese prefectures and Cambodia.

In response, Prime Minister Hun Manet congratulated the Governor on the signing of the Memorandum on December 26 and expressed gratitude to the Japanese government and people for their ongoing support in Cambodia’s peace-building efforts since the 1990s. He acknowledged Japan's contributions to restoring and advancing socio-economic development across various sectors.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of the Memorandum of Cooperation in strengthening ties between the two nations, particularly in enhancing people-to-people relations. He noted that the agreement would bolster Cambodian human resources in automotive, technology, and digital skills, aligning with the current and future job market needs in Japan.

Prime Minister Hun Manet urged the Miyagi Prefectural Administration to engage closely with the Cambodian Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training to develop concrete plans for future cooperation.