“Garment exports surged from $3 billion in 2008 to $6 billion in 2014 and, with the inclusion of other textile-related items subsequently put under the association’s purview, ballooned to $11 billion in 2021,” Sang was quoted as saying by Cambodian media reports at the event.

Cambodia’s industry trade body Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) will now be known as the Textile, Apparel, Footwear, and Travel Goods Association in Cambodia (TAFTAC) after it was officially renamed in a recent ceremony attended by Cambodia’s army commander Lieutenant General Hun Manet. Kong Sang will remain the president of TAFTAC.

Sang reiterated that textiles, apparel, footwear, bags, and travel goods have come under GMAC’s scope of representation since 2015. “That year, a campaign was launched to encourage footwear factories to join the association, under the guidance of the ministry of commerce. The number of factories among the association’s ranks has increased from 400 in 2012 to the current 690, which directly employ more than 800,000 people with a total annual salary of $2 billion,” he added.

The export of travel goods, bags, and other items under Chapter 42 of the harmonised tariff schedule jumped by 1,524.71 per cent from $97.340 million in 2015 to $1.581 billion in 2021, according to the General Department of Customs and Excise.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)