【Cambodia Trip Day5】Exploring Silk Island and Expe

　　After a six-hour journey, ISU delegation came back to Phnom Penh on May 5th, it was the last day of this Cambodia Trip.

　　Firstly, ISU delegation arrived Koh Oknha Tey by boat, known as “silk island”. Then they visit the silk workshops by Tuk-Tuk, a kind of typical Cambodian transportation vehicle.

　　There are around 1000 households in Koh Oknha Tey, and almost 800 households engage in silk weaving. Raw silk mainly imports from China and Vietnam through central market, then sell it to all workshops. 

　　Accompanied by Vice-Minister of Domestic Trade and other staffs of Moc, ISU delegation visited the silk weaving workshop with the biggest scale in this island. Ms.Thavy, the third generation of this workshop, introduced that there  were six looms and employed 6 or 7 workers, while the other workshops owned 2 or 3 looms in average.

　　The looms in this workshop have been made of metal material, they are the most advanced textile equipment have been seen during this trip, and its products are of better quality. Products are various traditional Cambodia silk, and silk scarves in majority. They also provide customized services, and even some products are specialized for the Royal. Besides, some other products in high quality are sold by Sentosa silk.

　　After that, ISU delegation visited another island named Kosh Darch. Vice-Minister of Domestic Trade, Director general of commercial bureau, Chairman and Secretary General of silk association received the delegation.  

　　The scale of Kosh Darch silk village is similar to the Koh Oknha Tey silk island. There are about 800 households among 1000 are engaged in silk weaving. Different from Koh Oknha Tey, Kosh Darch has organized its own Silk Association (Viseth Devy Silk Association). It helps to purchase the raw silk and assign to each household workshop. While after weaving, silk association also helps them to sell products (mainly silk fabric). This kind of type promotes local employment, especially women and persons with disabilities, meanwhile increases the income of the poor.

　　Nowadays, the silk Association has already brought land for planting mulberry trees and breeding silkworms. They hope to gradually get rid of the satiation that raw silk rely on import. On the one hand, it will lower the cost of material. On the other hand, more employment opportunities will be created. In this way, they eager to learn the more advanced technologies and experiences from China.

　　Mr. Fei Jianming, ISU secretary-general introduced the “Sericulture training course for developing countries” on May 23 and “International Training Course on modern silk products processing and innovative design technology” in October, and invited Moc to select suitable candidates to attend training courses in China.

　　The Cambodia investigation trip ended in the warm hospitality and delicious dinner hosted by Viseth Devy Silk Association.