Phnom Penh: On the evening of 14 August 2025, with the esteemed authorization of H.E. Hout Hak, Minister of Tourism, H.E. Pak Sokhum, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Tourism, attended the ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of Gourmet Beverage Solutions (GBS) and its excellence in coffee business partnerships. The event was held at Rosewood Phnom Penh and brought together the company’s co-founders and approximately 100 representatives of its business partners.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Pak Sokhum conveyed his greetings and congratulations on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and highlighted the visionary leadership of H.E. Hout Hak, Minister of Tourism, particularly his strong commitment to supporting and encouraging businesses operating within the tourism sector, including the coffee industry.
H.E. Pak Sokhum further emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to promoting tourism vocational skills development through the continuous strengthening of the capacities of tourism professionals and workers. Such efforts aim to equip the workforce with practical knowledge and competencies while developing human capital endowed with knowledge, technical skills, and professional attitudes. This, in turn, contributes to higher workplace productivity, improved service quality, and greater satisfaction among customers and tourists.
It is worth recalling that GBS has maintained strong cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism in providing professional coffee preparation and barista skills training to tourism professionals across various provinces and the capital. Key areas of cooperation have included:
1. Training a total of 45 national coffee-skills trainers, including 22 women, to strengthen the capacity of trainers to deliver professional coffee-related skills training.
2. Organizing one capacity-building course for all 45 trainers, complemented by a practical study visit to the GBS facility in Phnom Penh, where participants gained first-hand knowledge of coffee bean roasting processes and related techniques.
3. Supporting the first training delivery by HoKa trainers in seven target provinces, namely Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Koh Kong, Kampong Chhnang, Pursat, Battambang, and Pailin, thereby expanding access to professional skills development at the provincial level.
4. Promoting coffee preparation and beverage-mixing skills through the Ministry of Tourism’s job and skills fairs, contributing to greater public awareness of vocational opportunities and career pathways within the hospitality and tourism sector.
5. Providing free intermediate-level coffee preparation training to 22 trainees in Phnom Penh, creating additional opportunities for skills development and employment within the hospitality and beverage-service industry.
These collaborative initiatives demonstrate the important role of public–private partnerships in strengthening Cambodia’s tourism workforce by connecting vocational training with the practical requirements of the labour market. Through the engagement of industry partners, trainees and tourism professionals are able to gain practical knowledge, technical competencies, and exposure to industry standards, thereby enhancing their readiness to meet the evolving needs of tourism and hospitality businesses.
On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, the Ministry of Tourism extends its warmest congratulations to Gourmet Beverage Solutions (GBS) on its achievements and continued growth over the past decade. The Ministry expresses its strong expectation that cooperation between the Ministry and GBS will continue to be strengthened and expanded, particularly in the areas of coffee preparation, beverage mixing, and related vocational skills.
Such continued collaboration will contribute to enhancing the quality of tourism and hospitality services, strengthening workforce competencies, expanding employment opportunities, and improving the competitiveness of Cambodia’s tourism sector, while supporting the development of a skilled, professional, and service-oriented tourism workforce.
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