US retail multinational Walmart will increase orders of Cambodian garments and footwear products in the upcoming year and will also start buying fruits, food products, and electronics.
The remarks were made by Anbinh Phan, director of Walmart’s Global Government Affairs, in a virtual meeting with Ith Samheng, Minister of Labor and Vocational Training, yesterday. The American retail giant’s remarks have been significant considering that Cambodia resumed its socio-economic activities, pushing a full production chain in the industry sector.
The two sides discussed the purchase orders on Cambodia-made products which contribute to enhancing job creation and people’s living as well as the development of the job, and vocational training sector in the Kingdom.
Phan appreciated Cambodia for effectively handling the Covid-19 situation.
“The Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, as well as the Royal Government of Cambodia, has paid much attention to better working condition enhancement, especially managing and preventing the spread of Covid-19, ensuring the sustainability of the production chain and export of Cambodian products abroad,” Phan said.
Walmart plans to export fruits, food products, electronics and furniture from Cambodia when these products meet international standards.
Samheng said the government paid much attention and promotes better working conditions and social protection assistance to workers over other benefits.
The government has launched and successfully implemented a ten-round package of intervention measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, as well as to ensure the normalisation of business, trade, production, investment and employment and the livelihood of the workers and the poor people, he said.
“Regarding the control of Covid-19 disease, the government encourages and gives priority to workers, including foreign workers in factories, to receive timely and free Covid-19 vaccines,” Samheng said.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said early in June that the production chain of the garment industry sector resumed its potential after the pandemic crisis was under control.
Up to 500 factories are in the mode of full production chains as orders have increased from international buyers, the Prime Minister said.
Walmart is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores in the United States, headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Cambodia exported $3,729 million worth of goods to the US in the January-May period this year, a 57.7 percent increase over the same period last year.
This article was first published in Khmer Times. All contents and images are copyright to their respective owners and sources.
