ISU Investigation on Cambodian Silk Industry
In order to strengthen the exchanges and interactions between member units from various countries and understand the development environment of the international silk market, on August 11-12, 2019, International Silk Union (ISU) organized more than 20 member units from China to arrive in Cambodia to investigated the local silk market.
On August 11, the delegation visited the Artisans Angkor in the heart of Siem Reap, accompanied by the production director PAV Eang Khoing, the delegation visited wood carving, stone carving, lacquer ware, painting, silverware, etc., and learned about the processing. Then, the delegation visited the silk factory, the Artisans Angkor currently have 8 hectares of mulberry gardens and planted mulberry varieties from China, Japan, India and other countries. The director of PAV Eang Khoing introduced a local Cambodian variety to the delegation, this mulberry variety can better promote silkworms to eat. Afterwards, the delegation visited coooconerie, silk operation workshop, weaving showcase, handicraft shops. Cambodia's local cocoons are golden, from boiled silk to weaving and dyeing, all of which are traditionally hand-made, and craftsmen have produced more rich varieties and high quality silk products to meet the needs of different users.
On the morning of August 12, three deputy ministers of the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Agriculture, and representatives of various departments and Cambodia Silk Sector Promotion and Development Commission (SDC) totally more than 20 representatives met with Fei Jianming, secretary-general of ISU, Gee Yu Will Lam and Din Yu Well Lam, executive directors of ISU member unit High Fashion International Limited, and held a meeting.
H.E. Mao Thora, deputy minister of Ministry of Commerce, welcomed the arrival of secretary-general Fei and his delegation, and introduced the development status of the Cambodian silk industry. He communicated with the secretary-general Fei on the development of the Cambodian silk industry, training program for professionals and training courses on sericulture and silk, he said that it will further recommend local well-known silk enterprises to join the ISU and strengthen the international development of Cambodian silk. Secretary-general Fei expressed that the ISU and Cambodia have close ties, which greatly promoted the exchange and cooperation of the silk industry. As a platform for international silk exchange and cooperation, ISU will discuss with the member units of Guangdong Silk-Tex Group and Zhejiang Sci-Tech University on cooperatively setting training class with the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia. Finally, he introduced the detailed agenda of 2019 International Silk Union Members Assembly, and invited H.E. Mao Thora and other leaders to attend the meeting.
High Fashion International Limited consulted relevant policies and support for investment promotion in Cambodia, the deputy minister of Industrial Department made a detailed policy interpretation for the High Fashion, and said that the follow-up will further strengthen communication, actively implement the docking, and strive to put the investment to the ground.
Minister Mao Thora presenting gifts to secretary-general Fei
The delegates visited the advanced customization workshop of SDC member
The rest of the delegation visited the SentoSaSilk located around the Grand Palace in Phnom Penh.
Seng Takakneary, founder and managing director of SentoSaSilk, accompanied the delegation to visit the SentoSaSilk shop. Ms. Seng Takakneary customized the silk fabrics of Cambodian nationality from the silk communities of the six provinces and processed them into various silk products. The silk products are dazzling, and the quality of their products has been certified by France, Japan and other countries. The products are exported to Europe and Japan, and are also favored by the Cambodian royal family and social upflow. From non-legacy workshops to international quality certified silk brand stores, SentoSaSilk has become a typical representative of the recovery of the Cambodian silk industry.
On the afternoon, the delegation visited He Enjia, the president of Textile Enterprise Association of Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, and visited the Cambodia Garment Training Institute (CGTI). President He briefed the delegation on the status quo, infrastructure development, industrial advantages and investment environment of the Cambodian textile industry. The textile industry is one of Cambodia's four pillar industries, accounting for 75% of the country's GDP, directly employing 1 million workers and supporting 4 million people. Cambodia enjoys free trade in world trade. It is imported from the EU, Japan, Australia, Canada and other countries with zero tariffs. The wage level of workers is about 300 US dollars per month, which is close to the wages of Southwest China and Northwest China, but labor efficiency is only 60% of Chinese workers. Cambodian textiles are mainly processed, due to local hydropower conditions, there are only 4-5 weaving factories and dyeing factories in Cambodia. The scale is small and the workers' social security conditions are relatively low.
Then, president He accompanied the delegation to visit CGTI, the institute seeks to be part of the solution to the “skills gap” that exists in one of Cambodia’s most important industries, and will look to train workers and help fill middle-management vacancies, and offers three different diploma programs, which all last about three months, and will be made up of a selection of 27 short courses that span three to five days each. There are continuous students, with an average of 100 students per month. The teachers are strong, mostly professional teachers hired from various countries including China and Singapore.
The entire institute is designed by local Cambodian designers. The building incorporates European style, beautiful environment, simple and generous, well-equipped training classrooms, and most of the teaching facilities such as advanced blackboards, desks and projectors are imported. It is the most marvelous, gorgeous, splendid and posh institute in Cambodia.
The two-day Cambodian silk expedition ended successfully. Although the current silk industry in Cambodia is still weak and the development is lagging behind, many representatives of the Cambodian silk industry actively participate in the international exchange of silk. Through the platform of the ISU, they actively promote the investment opportunities of silk enterprises from all over the world, seek more rational Cambodian silk development plans, striving to enlarge and strengthen the local silk industry.
