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.

GIPC’s workforce development specialist, economist Lynn Salinger of AIRD, Inc., and a lecturer with Tufts University (Boston, MA USA), led the seminar.  Content included global textiles and garments supply and demand, trade governance and policies specific to the textiles and garment industry, and Cambodia’s role in the global value-chain. The competitive pressures faced by Cambodia’s garment industry and problems of productivity and competitiveness were also discussed. “Our understanding of this industry has been broadened,” said one instructor. “There’s big hope for everyone to be involved in the industry,” another noted.

Roger Tan, on behalf of GMAC’s Executive Committee, addressed the NUM students who piloted the course text.  He encouraged the universities to look to the industry as a source of good jobs, one that requires more and better-prepared young Cambodians to continue as an engine for our economic growth.