This photo taken on April 1, 2026, shows Chinese-invested Cambodia Cement Chakrey Ting Factory Co., Ltd. in Kampot province, Cambodia. (Xinhua/Wu Changwei)
KAMPOT, Cambodia, April 2 (Xinhua) -- For Phim Sophara, a 43-year-old Cambodian man who did not have any knowledge of a cement plant before, a dramatic change in life came when he was granted a job and trained by Chinese experts on how to manage raw materials for the cement plant.
Joining the Chinese-invested Cambodia Cement Chakrey Ting Factory Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of Huaxin Building Materials Group Co., Ltd, in 2015, Sophara has now mastered the management of cement raw materials, transforming himself from an inexperienced worker into a supervisor for the plant's raw material unit.
"When I first worked for the cement plant, I served as a chauffeur," he told Xinhua on Wednesday. "Later on, the company trained me to be a raw material specialist and subsequently promoted me to be a deputy supervisor and then a supervisor of the raw material unit."
Sophara said the plant has not only significantly contributed to developing the kingdom's construction sector and improving local livelihoods, but also provided valuable technical skills to Cambodian talents.
The father of two daughters said the job at the plant has not only given him a specific skill, but also improved his family's livelihood because the factory has provided him with a decent salary.
He is very grateful to Chinese colleagues for sharing their valuable skills with Cambodian workers, saying that working at the factory for 11 years, he has learned a lot from them.
Sophara's success story is a genuine example of technology and skill transfers from Chinese experts to Cambodian talents at the cement plant.
Seang Keo Somalinda, deputy supervisor of the quality control unit at the plant, said she had been trained for three months before starting practical work.
"When I passed an interview receiving a job opportunity here, I was really excited," she told Xinhua. "For the quality control skill, Chinese colleagues have trained us directly on how to test the quality of cement bags or products."
Somalinda, who has worked for the plant since 2023, said the job is very valuable because it has given her a specific skill that can feed her for life.
"After I have worked here, my livelihood is twice as good," she said.
Speaking of communication between Chinese and Cambodian colleagues, she said they got on well with each other and that Chinese colleagues have a good attitude and are polite and humble.
The 25-year-old woman said the plant is very important, as it is a leading cement factory in Kampot province and has created a lot of jobs for local people.
"I'm really grateful to the company for providing job opportunities to our people, paying attention to the employees' well-being and safety, offering steady incomes to the employees, which have greatly improved their families' livelihoods," she said.
Hen Thai, a supervisor of the cement packaging unit, said the plant has also transformed his career from a cook into a packaging supervisor.
"Before working here, I worked as a cook in Preah Sihanouk province," he told Xinhua, adding that he joined the cement factory in 2019.
Hen Thai said the company has trained him on engine control, production chain, cement bag manufacturing and cement packaging.
"Working here, I'm really happy because my house is adjacent to the factory and the job is low-stress," he said.
Established in 2014 in southwestern Kampot province's Teuk Chhou district, the plant has a daily production capacity of 3,800 tonnes and has created more than 400 jobs. ■
This photo taken on April 1, 2026, shows Chinese-invested Cambodia Cement Chakrey Ting Factory Co., Ltd. in Kampot province, Cambodia. (Xinhua/Wu Changwei)
