Cambodia: footwear association to operate under garment body
A footwear association has been granted permission by the Cambodian Government to operate under the gamut of the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC).
Representatives of 37 of the 38 footwear factories operating in the country approved this move, with one absentee.
Minister of Commerce, Cham Prasidh, while talking with GMAC members and footwear factory owners, said that it was not easy for the factories to individually approach the Government to resolve their issues, and having an association could help in finding solutions to the problems faced by the industry.
He said the Government does not want entrepreneurs to leave the industry due to issues in their way. Instead, it would like to develop an interactive platform for dialogue for the footwear units, he stated.
The footwear sector in Cambodia has registered a year-on-year rise of 55.8%. Last year the industry exported footwear items worth around $172 million.
Van Sou Ieng, chairman of GMAC, said that the association would be helpful in drawing prospective buyers to the factories. He added that the footwear manufacturers can enhance their production through cooperation with the association.
