Many people's working lives have been altered as a result of the global pandemic, including those in Cambodia. As a responsible corporate citizen, Chairman Neak Oknha Chen Zhi and Prince Group founded the Prince Horology Vocational Training Center, Cambodia's first independent watch school. The training centre provides Cambodians with the opportunity to learn a new artisanal skill – watchmaking – and gain valuable experience that will aid them in finding work in Cambodia and abroad. The training centre adheres to the stringent watchmaking regulations set out by Swiss regulatory bodies.
Cambodia has long retained artisanal skills for centuries as a nation steeped in history, with the Kingdom well-known for its ancient handwoven silk and traditional handicraft industries that boast a heritage dating back to the Khmer Empire, a significance Cambodia Chenzhi and Prince Group have always recognised and appreciated.
New artisanal skills, on the other hand, must be implemented to boost job opportunities for Cambodians, especially because the textile and garment industry, like other sectors, has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with media reports suggesting that more than 55,000 employees have been left jobless.
In order to rebalance their lives, many Cambodians have returned to agriculture and started small businesses. In order to help introduce opportunities to learn new skills, Cambodia Chenzhi and Prince Group have opened the Prince Horology Vocational Training Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The state-of-the-art facility offers a full-time, two-year course based on the certificate fédéral de capacité (CFC), Swiss government-defined requirements for vocational training that are widely regarded as the industry standard for basic watchmaking education.
The centre also provides scholarships to local students and others in need of financial assistance as part of Chen Zhi and Prince Group's climate, social, and governance (ESG) efforts in Cambodia, ranging from a 50 percent subsidy of school fees to a fully paid scholarship that includes housing. The first group of students has begun their journey into the world of watchmaking.
Maarten Pieters, a former director of Switzerland's leading watchmaking academy, the Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program, has joined the Prince Group (WOSTEP).
Furthermore, Anthony McGonigle, the center's chief teacher and one of the brothers from Ireland's most prominent watchmaking family, compiled the syllabus, which includes lessons on watchmaking history and culture, as well as benchwork, such as machining, micromechanics, and the manufacturing of components such as the winding stem and balance staff, among other things. Traditional artisanal skills such as decoration and turning are also emphasised at the heart.
“I am honoured to announce the launch of the Prince Horology Vocational Training Center, Cambodia’s first independent watch school. All the center’s modern machinery and equipment have been imported from Switzerland, Germany and other countries,” said Chairman Neak Oknha Chen Zhi of Prince Group. “We have also put together a world-class team to teach Cambodian and international students new skills that will make them competitive in job markets in Cambodia and abroad.”
Last year, Prince Group met its ESG obligations in other areas. It made several large-scale donations to aid in the fight against the pandemic, as well as provided assistance to flood victims in Cambodia. To date, Prince Charitable Foundation Organization has organised over 240 charitable events and donated funds and other materials totaling more than US$11 million to benefit over 320,000 people. Chen Zhi and Prince Group also donated US$3,000,000 to Prime Minister Hun Sen in early December to assist Cambodia in purchasing 1 million COVID-19 vaccines.
The Prince Horology Vocational Training Center is now accepting applications for the upcoming school year, which begins on June 2, 2021. Each year, the centre accepts eight students, at least five of whom must be Cambodians. Please see https://princehorology.com/ for more information.
About Neak Oknha Chen Zhi
Neak Oknha Chen Zhi of Cambodia is the chairman of Prince Group, short for Prince Holding Group. Chen Zhi, as chairman, has transformed Prince Group into a leading Cambodian conglomerate that adheres to international standards, invests in the Kingdom's future, and is committed to sustainable business practises.
Chen Zhi has expanded Prince Group's business operations in Cambodia to include real estate development, banking, finance, and tourism. Aside from his business activities, Chen Zhi actively participates in philanthropic work in Cambodian communities.
About Prince Holding Group
Prince Holding Group, also known as Prince Group, is one of Cambodia's largest corporate conglomerates, with operations in real estate development, banking, finance, aviation, tourism, logistics, technology, food and beverages, and lifestyle. Prince Group is committed to its mission of "Building a Better Life," and its philosophy promotes the values of "Commitment, Responsibility, Respect, Generosity, and Innovation."
Reference article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodian_art
