Garment sector sews success

Photo by: Will Baxter

A garment factory worker stitches children’s pyjamas at a factory in Phnom Penh.

via CAAI

Thursday, 20 January 2011 15:01 Chun Sophal

The Kingdom’s garment exports increased 26 percent in 2010, over the year previous, according to figures received from the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia.

Garment exports were worth a total of US$2.99 billion in 2010, compared with $2.38 billion for 2009, the figures show.

The Kingdom was picking up business that had previously been sourced to China, as many workers in the China had pushed for higher wages, according to GMAC president Van Sou Ieng.

“This year garment exports will continue to increase, because many international buyers are interested in the quality and stable pricing of Cambodian garments,” he said.

Some two thirds of Cambodia’s total garment production, worth about $2 billion, was exported to the United States, while shipments to Europe consisted more than $750 million.

Van Sou Ieng said that labour actions in the garment sector were likely to decrease with the continuing global economic recovery, adding that increased stability would assist Cambodia in attracting orders from abroad this year.Japan was one market that was opening up to Cambodian garment exports, having placed orders worth as much as $200 million for the coming year.

“We are seeing growing demand for Cambodian garment products, so we hope that this year exports will increase from a year earlier,” Van Sou Ieng said.

Ministry of Commerce secretary of state Uk Boung said garment exports to the United States were likely to remain stable in 2011, but exports to nations such as Japan and ASEAN members may increase, as the government has increased business agreements made with these countries.

“I think Cambodian garment exports in 2011 will remain positive – however, it will require extra effort,” he said yesterday.