The project to build a civil aviation centre in Phnom Penh, a programme funded by the Korean government, officially came to an end yesterday, with Cambodians taking over instructor positions that were being held by Korean aviation professionals.
Located at Phnom Penh’s international airport, the Civil Aviation Training Centre (CATC), was built last year to train local aviation professionals.
The project had a budget of $10 million, provided by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (Koica), which included the construction of teaching facilities and the training of aviation students by Korean instructors.
It officially concluded yesterday, when Cambodian instructors trained at the centre assumed the roles previously held by the Koreans.
Speaking at a ceremony yesterday to mark the event, Mao Havannall, Secretary of State at the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), said CATC plays a crucial role in developing the human capital needed to push forward the local aviation industry.
“CATC will enhance Cambodia’s ability to train aviation professionals. This will contribute in a significant way to the country’s economic growth,” he said, adding that the centre was needed to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving aviation and tourism sectors.
He said the centre has also reduced costs for SSCA, who now does not have to invest in overseas courses to train local professionals.
Jeong Yun Gil, country director of Koica, said the project has built trust for the local aviation industry internationally.
“Through training facilities and management programmes, it has been possible to train a relatively large number of people and ensure that safe and secure air transportation services gain the trust of the international community,” Mr Yun Gil said.
SSCA spokesman Sin Chansereyvutha said Cambodians will now take over the management of the centre.
“Before Korean aviation experts were helping us, but now that the project has ended, we will run it ourselves using local trainers to train the next generations of aviation professionals,” Mr Chansereyvutha said.
According to SSCA, 540 students have completed courses at the centre, which include quality management, safety management system implementation (SMS), basic air traffic control, aircraft accident and incident investigation, international air law and dangerous goods awareness.