Esther Germans of the Netherlands, who has been programme manager of Better Factories Cambodia since April 2015, believes the Cambodian clothing sector has a future beyond its current status as a cut, make and trim producer that is wanted only for its cheap labour and preferential market access.
She sees a number of garment exporting companies in Cambodia that are currently doing well and are internationally competitive.
Germans does not think that, in the near future, Western retailers and brands will drop Cambodia because of Vietnam, with its free trade agreement with the EU and the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, or Myanmar with its low wages.
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