Garment Industry Productivity Center - Cambodia

Universities to Introduce Garment Industry to Cambodian Students

The garment industry is a critical sector of the Cambodian economy, but high potential youth have had no opportunity to learn about the business, trade and economics related to apparel.  That is changing, with the help of USAID and the Garment Industry Productivity Center.

During the week of May 12, 2008, 9 university instructors from the Institute of Technology in Cambodia (ITC), the National University of Management (NUM), Norton University, and the University of Cambodia participated in a training seminar on “Textiles and Garments in the Global Economy.”   Executive Committee Member Roger Tan represented GMAC at the participants’ certificate ceremony.

Participating universities will offer Cambodia’s first post-secondary course on textiles and garments in the global economy to engineering, business, and economics students in September.

With the support of USAID, GIPC sponsored a study of the Cambodian industry value chain at the factory level. This is unique report, primarily the work of industry expert/cost accountant Don Feeney of Werner International, Inc., and economist/analyst Peter Minor of Nathan Associates, Inc. captures the basic cost structure for two types of garments and conveys useful insights into the structure of the industry, and its challenges.

October 2007 – Survey of GIPC trainees shows job success

Cambodian garment industry workers trained in time and work study by GIPC told

researchers from the Economic Institute of Cambodia that the training was helping their professional growth.  Of 127 individuals contacted, over 90% felt that the skills they learned helped them do their jobs more effectively, and with greater satisfaction.  Even more important, over 60% received salary increases or promotions because of the skills they gained. 

USAID-GIPC announces publication of the results of an assessment of workforce skills and employer needs in the Cambodian garment industry. In October, GIPC colleague and economist B. Lynn Salinger of AIRD, Inc., the primary author of the assessment, presented the findings to a stakeholder group that included factories, the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia, Ministry of Labour and,...

USAID-GIPC brought Washington DC trade attorney and textile trade expert Brenda Jacobs to Phnom Penh to update garment makers, government and union leaders, on competitiveness and the trade agenda in the United States.  Over 150 participants met at the Intercontinental Hotel on September 14, 2006, to get the latest insights on free trade for Cambodia, Vietnam’s WTO status, ...

This report discloses skill requirement of garment factories, work/career expectations of youth, students and workers and finally, presents some education and training offerings available from Cambodia’s post secondary education and polytechnic training institutions. The assessment found a sharp disconnect between industry needs and the ability of the Cambodian labor market to respond to those needs.