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(From left to right) CSDC Board of directors Mr. David Van, U.S. Ambassador Rodley and Secretary of State of Ministry of Commerce H.E. Chhuon Dara
Garment Sector Gathers at U.S.-supported Conference to Map Future
Sunway Hotel, Phnom Penh
June 12, 2009
The United States supported a conference on the future of the Cambodian garment industry that drew members of the private sector, unions and the government. The conference took place on Friday, June 12, at the Sunway Hotel in Phnom Penh.
Ambassador Rodley and Senior Minister Cham Prasidh provided keynote remarks at the all-day gathering, which featured discussions on how the garment sector could become more competitive internationally and recover from recent setbacks.
“In order to turn the tide, we must ensure that the garment industry has a unified and strategic vision that effectively addresses internal and external challenges,” Ambassador Rodley said.
“By working together, we can help the garment industry to continue to become more competitive and continue to drive the country’s development.”
Ambassador Rodley praised the Cambodia Skills Development Center, a Cambodian NGO that provides consulting services to factories, trains Cambodians in industrial engineering, and promotes cooperation among labor, management and government. Known previously as the Garment Industry Productivity Center, the center received $3.4 million from the United States in 2005-2008.
The United States, through USAID, continues to provide some funding for the center, although it now operates largely on fees from clients, making it a model of private-sector sustainability.
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