The Economy of Cambodia
The Garment Industry
Garments, footwear and travel goods are Cambodia's top exports, producing for global brands and employing hundreds of thousands, mostly women.
The main export engine.
Scale
Factories, many owned by Chinese, Korean and Taiwanese firms, produce clothing for global brands.
Workers
Hundreds of thousands, most of them young women from rural areas.
Preferences
Duty-free access to the EU under the Everything But Arms scheme helped exports.
Risks
Reliance on a few products and buyers, and low wages and labour disputes.
A factory line
Young workers sew jackets for European and American retailers.
Assuming garments provide a permanent advantage
Trade preferences and costs can change.
Key takeaways
- Garments lead exports.
- Most workers are women.
- EU preferences helped.
- Dependence is a risk.
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