Cambodia's garment export increases 12 pct in first half of 2007

The total export of Cambodia's garment products increased by 12 percent in the first half of this year, senior officials said on Wednesday.

The export is up 12 percent in the first six month of this year compared with the same period last year because it had good labor standard and the international buyers continued to buy garment products from Cambodia, Cham Prasidh, minister of Commerce, told the Cambodia Buyers Forum Wednesday.

Cambodia stands the fifth largest garment products exporter in the world with competitive partners from China, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Indonesia, he said.

"The garment industry employs over 330,000 workers. More than 80 percent of the workers are poor rural women whose earnings are crucial to their families," Chairman for Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia (GMAC) said, adding that the garment industry provides livelihood for at least 1.7 million people in Cambodia.

The cost of exporting a container of garment products is still high in Cambodia and it takes many days for legal procedures, he said.

In Vietnam, the price is about 300 U.S. dollars per container and it takes one day for legal procedures, he said, adding that in Cambodia, the price is 700 or 800 U.S. dollars and it takes three days.

The two-day forum is organized by International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank, Mekong Private sector Development Facility (MPDF) and International Labor Organization ( ILO), which aims to support Cambodia's garment industry, ensure it maintains good labor standard and also promote Cambodia to new buyers in the world.

Source: Xinhua