Cambodia’s industrial trade body, the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia (GMAC), has recently officially changed its name to the Textile, Clothing, Footwear and Travel Products Association of Cambodia (TAFTAC). Mr. Kong Sang will continue to serve as Chairman of TAFTAC .
Mr. Kong Sang said: Clothing exports soared from US$3 billion in 2008 to US$6 billion in 2014, and with the subsequent inclusion of other textile-related projects, by 2021 has increased to US$11 billion annually.
He added that since 2015, textiles, clothing, footwear, bags and travel supplies have been included in GMAC’s business scope. That year, under the guidance of the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce, footwear manufacturers were encouraged to join GMAC. The number of factories under the association has increased from 400 in 2012 to the current 690, directly employing more than 800,000 employees, with a total annual salary of US$2 billion.
According to data from the General Administration of Customs, the export volume of travel supplies, bags and other items belonging to Chapter 42 of the Tariff Schedule (HTS) has increased from US$97.34 million in 2015 to Jumping to US$1.58 billion in 2021, a growth of 1524.7%.
