Cambodia has launched the Cambodia Garment Training Center Institute (CGTI) for workers in the garment and textile industries to gain intensive skills for the development of productivity in the sector. The garment industry has been growing for decades and employs almost one million people while contributing to the country’s economic growth. With more than one million workers there are 1,168 factories and enterprises in Cambodia.

With a soft loan from the French Development Agency (AFD), CGTI has been built by the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia. Andrew Tey, Director of CGTI, points out Cambodia’s garment and footwear industry is facing many challenges and competition, while wages are set to be reviewed and will increase year-on-year, this requires better quality of production.

Right now Cambodia lacks a soft training institute, that’s why GMAC is pitching in to improve productivity. Else Cambodia will lose business to competitors countries like Vietnam, while Myanmar. The CGTI in cooperation with Singapore-based TaF.tc is providing Singaporean trainers and setting up courses for its first three years to train locals to become next batch of trainers.

Tey says the institute has already held its first class in mid-July, which comprised 43 students from three garment factories who are now working as assistant supervisors and team leaders