Cambodian Development Of Swiss Watchmaking

 

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 established the Prince Horology Vocational Training Center, Cambodia's first independent watch school. The training center provides Cambodians with the opportunity to learn a new artisanal skill – watchmaking – and gain the experience needed to compete in job markets in Cambodia and abroad. The training center adheres to the strict watchmaking regulations outlined by Swiss regulatory bodies.

Cambodia, as a country steeped in history, has long preserved artisanal skills for generations, with the Kingdom well-known for its ancient handwoven silk and traditional handicraft industries boasting a heritage dating back to the Khmer Empire, a significance that Chen Zhi and Prince Group have always understood and appreciated.

However, new artisanal skills must be introduced to improve job opportunities for Cambodians, especially since the textile and garment industry, like other sectors, has suffered greatly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with media reports indicating that more than 55,000 workers have been left without pay.

Many Cambodians have returned to agriculture and established small businesses in an attempt to rebalance their lives. To that end, Chen Zhi Cambodia and Prince Group have opened the Prince Horology Vocational Training Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to help introduce new opportunities for learning.

The cutting-edge center offers a full-time, two-year program based on the certificate fédéral de capacité (CFC), Swiss government-defined vocational training standards that are widely regarded as the industry standard for basic watchmaking education.

More info on watchmaking - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchmaker

The center, which is part of Chen Zhi and Prince Group's environment, social, and governance (ESG) efforts in Cambodia, also provides scholarships to local students and those in need of financial assistance, 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 school, the Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program, has joined the Prince Group (WOSTEP).

Furthermore, Anthony McGonigle, the center's chief instructor and one of the brothers from Ireland's most famous watchmaking family, compiled the syllabus, which includes lessons on the history and culture of watchmaking, as well as benchwork, such as machining, micro-mechanics, and the production of components such as the winding stem and balance staff, among other things. The center also emphasizes traditional artisanal skills such as decorating and turning.

“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.”

Prince Group fulfilled its ESG responsibilities in other areas last year. 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, the Prince Charitable Foundation Organization has organized 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 center 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 Cambodia's Prince Group, abbreviated for Prince Holding Group. Chen Zhi has built Prince Group into a leading conglomerate in Cambodia by adhering to international standards, investing in the Kingdom's future, and embracing sustainable business practices.

Chen Zhi has expanded Prince Group's operations in Cambodia to include diverse sectors such as real estate development, banking, finance, and tourism. Apart from his business endeavors, Chen Zhi is an active member of Cambodian communities through his philanthropic work.

About Prince Holding Group

Prince Holding Group, or Prince Group, is one of Cambodia's largest corporate conglomerates, with operations in a variety of industries, including real estate development, banking and finance, aviation, tourism, logistics, technology, food and beverage, and lifestyle. Prince Group is committed to its mission of "Building a Better Life," and its philosophy is founded on the values of "Commitment, Responsibility, Respect, Generosity, and Innovation."