Cambodia approves projects that will create 9,500 jobs

The CDC has issued final registration certificates to Remstex Fashion, Top Form (Cambodia) Manufacturing, New Wide Apparel, General Enterprises Garment (Cambodia), Sortics Alliance, Hong Cen Max Leather Products, Cathaya (Cambodia) and CK Sports. 

Five companies – Remstex Fashion, Top Form, New Wide Apparel, General Enterprises and Sortics Alliance – will set up garment factories. The five companies will together create about 89% or 8,452 of the total number of new jobs. 

Remstex Fashion’s investment of US$6 million in Takeo province is expected to create 1,929 jobs, Top Form’s US$9.5 million in Kandal province will employ 850 people, New Wide Apparel’s US$33 million in Kandal province will create 3,700 positions, General Enterprises’ project, also in Kandal province, will add 937 jobs, and Sortics Alliance’s US$5.2 million in Kampong Chhanang’s Samaki Meanchey district will create 1,036 positions.  

Hong Cen Max is investing US$2.6 million to build a bag-and-belt factory in Kandal province and aims to create 676 jobs. Cathaya’s US$2.8-million textile factory in Sihanoukville will hire around 170 people. 

CK Sports’ US$5-million factory will make footwear and sports equipment in the Manhattan Special Economic Zone in Bavet City, Svay Rieng Province and will provide work for around 210 locals. 

READ: Cambodia records high female labour participation

The pandemic has hit manufacturing hard, forcing many plants to go out of business, so the new investments are a welcome boost for the garment manufacturing sector – the biggest employer in the kingdom. 

According to the Industry Ministry, 101 factories closed last year, most of them from the garment sector. In mid-May this year, 27 factories closed due to outbreaks and 75 going bankrupt, according to Khmer Times.