Cambodia’s garment exports grow in 2012

January 18, 2013 (Cambodia)

Original article at: Fibre2Fashiom. The exports of garments and textiles from Southeast Asian nation of Cambodia grew to US$ 4.61 billion, up nine percent over total textiles and garment exports worth US$ 4.24 billion made in 2011, according to The Phnom Penh Post report.   However, the rise in garment and textile exports is lower than the 10.2 percent year-on-year increase in Cambodia’s overall exports achieved in 2012.   In addition to the economic crisis in Europe and the US, numerous strikes by garment workers was also a reason for Cambodia’s garment and textile exports growing at a slower pace, Van Sou Ieng, chairman of the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia (GMAC), said.   Last year, Cambodian apparel workers resorted to strike demanding higher wages, much earlier than the next scheduled review of wages in 2014.   The strikes resulted in a decrease in productivity of Cambodian clothing manufacturing units and made the sector less competitive compared with other countries like Bangladesh and India, Mr. Ieng said.   He added that GMAC is imparting skill training and helping in introduction of new technology to increase productivity of various garment units and to ensure continued growth of the country’s apparel industry.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India