South Korea is extending its advanced aviation education expertise to Cambodia, supporting the country as it builds its airport infrastructure and expands its aviation capabilities. The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) announced on the 26th that it has signed a Record of Discussion (ROD) with Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) to launch the ‘Capacity Building Project for Cambodia’s National Institute of Civil Aviation (NICA)’.
This collaboration comes at a crucial time for Cambodia, which is preparing to open a new international airport in Phnom Penh later this year, following the construction of airports in Siem Reap (2023) and Koh Kong (2024). As the country expands its airport infrastructure, there is a growing need for skilled aviation personnel to support these developments.
To address this need, KOICA will invest $12 million by 2029 to strengthen NICA’s educational facilities, develop practical training programs for air traffic controllers and airport operations professionals, and enhance the institute's overall competitiveness.
KOICA first established NICA in 2017 in response to the shortage of domestic aviation training institutions in Cambodia. Since its creation, NICA has become the country’s sole provider of air traffic controller licenses and has trained over 2,200 public servants through short-term programs. In 2023, NICA was upgraded to a higher technical education institution capable of awarding bachelor’s degrees.
The second phase of KOICA's support aims to raise NICA’s standards to global levels. This will involve the development of ICAO-accredited training programs, educator and administrator training, renovations of training facilities, expansion of training equipment, and the implementation of aviation security modules.
Through this project, Cambodia aims to become a regional hub for aviation education, attracting students not only from within the country but also from neighboring nations like Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. The project also aims to foster partnerships with aviation leaders such as Thailand and Singapore.
At the ROD signing ceremony in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s Minister of Civil Aviation Mao Havannall expressed high hopes for the initiative, saying, “We look forward to becoming a leading player in the regional aviation sector with the help of Korea’s advanced educational capabilities”.
KOICA Country Director Choi Moon-jung added, “This initiative will not only strengthen Cambodia’s aviation education capacity but also expand Korea-Cambodia cooperation in the broader aviation industry”.
The project marks a significant step in enhancing Cambodia’s aviation workforce and positioning the country as a leader in regional aviation education.
