Cambodian Commerce ministry secretary of state Ok Bung urges global buyers of global clothing brands and unions to increase their investment in its garment sector to introduce new technologies to help modernize the industry as recently low productivity is resulting in lower ranking for the country in the global value chain.

Representatives from companies, such as Inditex, Debenhams, Kmart-Australia, H&M, Next, C&A and Primark, and international union federation IndustriALL were present at the meeting.

Issues hampering the garment sector include high production costs, low productivity and access to a limited number of markets, said Ken Loo, secretary general of Garments Manufacturers Association of Cambodia (GMAC).

Frank Hoffer, executive director of non-profit organisation Action, Collaboration and Transformation (ACT), requested the ministry’s support to set up a workshop with buyers, unions, factory owners and government agencies to hear all sides and jointly prepare a strategy to guide development in the sector.

ACT is an initiative between international brands and retailers, manufacturers and trade unions to address the issue of living wages in the textile and garment supply chain.