Two memoranda of understanding - in healthcare and vocational training - were signed yesterday (Jan 9) in Phnom Penh, witnessed by Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

One of the MOU inked aims to strengthen medical cooperation. It officially renews the working relationship between Singapore's Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and Cambodia's Calmette Hospital. The two sides worked together in 2014-2016 to provide training on trauma care and resuscitation under a MOU signed earlier.

The renewal will mark another 3 years of collaboration between two hospitals and extend the range of joint training, adding to the list intensive care nursing, intensive care medicine and clinical quality.

Singapore President Tony Tan being greeted by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Samdech Chaufea Veang Kong Som Ol at Phnom Penh International Airport (source: MCI of Singapore)

According to Dr Chua Wei Chong, a Singaporean consultant trauma surgeon, the joint project enriches them with new experiences, as Singaporean practitioners could learn from cases that they never exposed to before.

The other MOU signed yesterday was between ITE Education Services (ITEES) and the Cambodian Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MOLVT). Accordingly, 80 Cambodian technical and vocational "master trainers" will received training in the fields of infocomm technology, electronics and automotive technology. The course lasts 24 months.

This is the second MOU signed between ITEES and Cambodian counterparts. The first took effect from 2010 to 2014, and covered the education of industry and government leaders./.

Channel News Asia ( Phi Yen )