Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation, yesterday received a delegation from the Textile, Apparel, Footwear, and Travel Goods Association in Cambodia (TAFTA), led by its new chairman, In Choy Ho, to discuss strengthening cooperation between international manufacturers and local enterprises as Cambodia prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in late 2029.
During the meeting, TAFTAC called for the development of upstream industries to expand local sourcing and strengthen domestic supply chains. Minister Vanndy emphasized the need to build stronger links between large factories and Cambodian suppliers to ensure the industry remains competitive in a changing global environment.
“We have two different worlds today – the world of large factories and the world of local enterprises. We must bridge these two worlds,” the Minister said. He called on TAFTAC to work with MISTI to develop local industries that can supply to large factories, including sharing data on the raw materials and accessories needed by the sector.
“Strengthening local sourcing will be essential for Cambodia’s long-term industrial development, particularly as global supply chains face disruptions and buyers increasingly require stronger local value addition,” Minister Vanndy added.
Mr. Enjoy Ho, who has worked in Cambodia’s garment sector for nearly three decades, noted that the industry has grown dramatically from about 20 factories in the mid-1990s to more than 860 member factories today. “As Cambodia prepares to graduate from LDC status, upstream industries for raw materials will be very important to ensure that our sector remains competitive and continues to provide employment,” he said.
The garment, textile, footwear and travel goods sector currently employs around 1.1 million Cambodian workers and supports millions more through related economic activities. The meeting also discussed promoting business-to-business linkages between TAFTAC members and Cambodian SMEs, strengthening industrial safety standards, and exploring opportunities to diversify Cambodia’s manufacturing sector while reinforcing the foundation of domestic supply chains.
