Cambodia Investment Review
USAID’s Digital Workforce Development (DWD) project marked a significant milestone today as 113 students completed the Cloud Computing certificate program, an initiative developed in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and local universities. Of the 113 graduates, 34 successfully passed the AWS certification exam to become certified cloud practitioners, enhancing their credentials in a rapidly growing global industry. This achievement adds to the program’s success, bringing the total number of certified students to 47 since the program’s inception. Those who did not pass the exam will have the opportunity to retake it with ongoing support from the program.
Investing in Cambodia’s Digital Future
The Cloud4Cambodia program is a key part of USAID’s focus on digital workforce development in Cambodia, particularly in supporting the country’s youth to meet the demands of an increasingly digital global economy. The three-week course aimed to provide participants with essential Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills, making them more competitive in the job market.
Kerry Pelzman, USAID/Cambodia Mission Director, highlighted the importance of these efforts. “USAID is committed to supporting Cambodia’s digital future by investing in the development of its workforce. By providing Cambodian students with cutting-edge skills in cloud computing, we are empowering youth, responding to the needs of the private sector, and contributing to Cambodia’s broader economic growth and participation in a free, open, inclusive, and secure global digital economy,” Pelzman stated.
A Growing Demand for Cloud Services
The growing importance of cloud services, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, underscores the relevance of this program. According to market analysts, the public cloud services market in the region is expected to nearly double, from $626.4 billion in 2023 to over $1.2 trillion by 2028, driven by the rising need for secure, off-site database storage and other cloud-based solutions. The Cloud4Cambodia program aims to equip students with the technical expertise required to meet this growing demand, both within Cambodia and internationally.
The project, funded by USAID through the University of California, Berkeley, emphasizes collaboration between public and private sectors to foster digital skills development. AWS, one of the world’s leading cloud service providers, played a central role in supporting the program, while other corporations such as META and Coca-Cola also contributed to the initiative. In addition to AWS certifications, the project provides educators at Cambodian universities with the tools to integrate digital skills into their curricula, ensuring that the knowledge passed on through the program remains relevant and adaptable.
Strengthening Cambodia’s Economic Resilience
The training took place at three Cambodian universities: the Royal University of Phnom Penh, the National University of Management, and the Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology. The program’s graduates are expected to play a vital role in meeting the country’s growing need for digital skills, particularly as more local and international companies seek to expand their operations in Cambodia’s burgeoning tech sector.
Pelzman’s remarks emphasized the broader goal of the initiative: “A priority for the DWD project is ensuring that Cambodia’s workforce is equipped with the technical talent and industry knowledge needed to meet the demands of the global digital economy, contributing to Cambodia’s economic resilience.”
With continued support from USAID and its private-sector partners, the Cloud4Cambodia program is helping to build a sustainable pipeline of digital talent in Cambodia. Those who did not pass the certification exam will have access to further training and resources to help them succeed in future attempts, ensuring that more young Cambodians can benefit from this initiative.
