Pursuant to article 20 of the Statute of Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC), an Annual General Meeting was convened on 30 March 2013 at Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, Phnom Penh. During the meeting, an election was held and members elected the following candidates as new Executive Committee of the association for term 2013-2015:
GMAC Welcomes New Director General of General Department of Taxation
GMAC warmly welcomes the appointment of H.E Kong Vibol as a new Director General of the General Department of Taxation. H.E Kong Vibol was assigned to both strengthen tax revenue collection and ensure transparency in the process. At very early days, in office, he initiated a Tax Workshop with all GMAC members to increase knowledge of our members and to also open opportunity for people to ask the Tax officers for answers and clarification on areas considered as grey which usually opens opportunity for disputes.
National Arbitration Center - Commercial Arbitration
Ten years ago, a first arbitration service in Cambodia was established but only dealt with labour disputes. The Labour Arbitration Council has been viewed as a major landmark in the development of sound labour relations in Cambodia, being trusted as an independent national institution with quasi-judicial authority derived from the Labour Law of Cambodia. The recent successful establishment of Commercial Arbitration is another milestone in the history of Cambodian business environment. It would contribute tremendously to investors’ confidence and conducive business environment leading to growth and development of the country’s economy.
Commercial Arbitration is one of the main things the private sector longs for and it is also Cambodia’s commitment toward its WTO accession. From the start, the private sector including GMAC has been very active and deeply involved in the establishment process to make sure it meets or exceeds the expectation of the private sector, its ultimate user. Of more importance moving forward is the direct involvement of the private sector thru its nominated representatives to be members of the NAC.
The business community firmly believes that this NAC will move forward boldly and professionally to be a recognized institution with complete confidence from the private sector, as what the labour arbitration council has set its boothprint.
Loan agreement signing for the establishment of Cambodian Garment Training Institute
Pursuant to the Statute of the association and with approval of more than 75% of members at the 2011 Annual General Meeting of the Association to allow the Executive Committee Members to act on GMAC's behalf in taking up the loan from the French Development Agency (AFD) for the purpose of the establishment of the Cambodia Garment Training Institute, and after about 2 years of detailed discussions among the Executive Committee Members and thorough studies, both legal and technical, the Loan Agreement was signed on 03 December 2012 at the AFD office in Phnom Penh by GMAC Chairman Mr. Van Sou Ieng and AFD's Asia Department Director Mr. Gregory Clemente.
The loan with the amount of $3.26M to be solely used for the establishment of the institute will benefit all members of the association and the country economy as a whole. The institute will train unskilled workers and other Cambodians who wish to undertake higher level works in garment factories, which will help both productivity improvement and the localization of workforce. The institute will be located inside the Phnom Penh Special economic Zone, around which many factories are clustered.
GMAC is thankful to AFD for their unwavering supports to the industry.
Investment in Cambodia
National Employment Agency-NEA 2012
Global Apparel Buyers Supporting ASEAN Suppliers
Phnom Penh, October 2: Marks and Spencer, Target, Benetton and El-Corte Ingles are some of the top global clothing brands and retailers who are in Phnom Penh, Cambodia this week, attending the 3rd Annual SAFSA Global Forum 2012 at the Sofitel Hotel.
Source ASEAN Full Service Alliance (SAFSA) is a member based alliance of textile mills and garment factories in Southeast Asia and the world’s leading garment buyers.
The three day event organized in conjunction with the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) gives high-level sourcing executives the opportunity to conduct B2B meetings with ASEAN based textile and apparel suppliers. During the two days, over 60 meetings are being held between the members and critical issues facing the region’s competitiveness are being discussed.
ASEAN textile and apparel companies are preparing for the move towards a single market in 2015 through the realization of the ASEAN Economic Community.
Mr. Ade Sudrajat, Chairman of the ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries (AFTEX) said, “Integration of the regional supply chain will allow the seamless transport of goods and stronger upstream and downstream linkages.”
The Annual SAFSA Global Forum is an ideal mechanism for brands and retailers to meet so many different ASEAN based suppliers in one event.
EU-ASEAN BUSINESS DIALOGUE PLANNING
To brain storm the Private Sector on the EU and ASEAN business linkages that lead to the development of the ASEAN & EU business communities and the coming 2nd EU-ASEAN Business Council at the EU-ASEAN Summit on April 1st 2012 in Phnom Penh. More Detail in <<English and Khmer >>
PRIME MINISTER VISITED GMAC BOOTH IN NANNING EXPO
Nanning, Guangxi province, South of China - Prime Minister Hun Sen visited the booth of Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) in the morning of October 21st, 2011. The visit started after Samdech attended the opening of the 8th China-ASEAN Expo 2011, the 8 years of trade promotion and cooperation between Cambodia (ASEAN) and China. He is proud to see more Cambodian exhibitors displayed their Made in Cambodia products.
During the visit, Samdech appreciated the quality garment and shoe products made by our Cambodian workers in the country. Cambodian government had strongly supported the annual trade promotion event. The 8th CAEXPO 2011 opened for traders and public from 21st to 26th October 2011 during which business match making and business conferences are set up to link traders, investors to do their trading and investment in Cambodia. Mr. Van Sou Ieng will attend the round table business meeting tomorrow.<<Detail >> STUDY VISIT, DONGGUAN, CHINA 11th – 14th NOVEMBER 2011
Dongguan city, China –The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) organized a Garment Industry Survey trip to Dongguan, China from 11th to 14th November 2011 with participations from government’s multi ministries, union representatives, garment business players in Cambodia and Dongguan Garment and Textile Association in Cambodia.
The 3rd trip started with the conference co organized by GMAC and Dongguan Garment and Textile to promote the Cambodia’s current competitive investment environment to the potential 60 participants from more than 40 raw materials, fabric, textile, and related businesses.
Mr. Van Sou Ieng, Chairman of GMAC introduced 24-delegate members from Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Council for the Development of Cambodia, Council of Ministers, Ministry of Environment, Unions and private companies and potential and competitive advantages to invest in Cambodia. The benefits given by the Royal Government of Cambodia with the Duty Free given by the EU, Canada, Japan, Korea, China, and other benefits could boost the garment, textile, textile mills, and other supporting industries to invest in Cambodia. <<Detail >>
Shoe Factories to Join GMAC
After a meeting held yesterday at the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) presided over by Senior Minister Cham Prasidh with participation of GMAC Exco and all the shoes factories' owners/managers, GMAC is pleased to inform you that all the shoes factories announced officially that they would join GMAC as members. The intention was to get all the shoes manufacturing companies in Cambodia organized as a group and for them to have an official channel to address their business issues, many of which are similar to ours. We warmly welcome them!
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VISIT TO CHINA
Phnom Penh – A joint Delegation led by His Excellency Vong Sauth, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training will visit the garment factories, and other businesses in Dongguan, China today 28th May 2011 for the 4-day visit (28 – 31 May 2011) to study the situation and development of Chinese labour market and the better cooperation in workplaces. <<Detail >>
PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE 2011
On 14th February to delivered GMAC’s supports to the soldiers and families station in Ta Maon temple area, in Preah Vihear. After handing out the goods, which included talkie-walkie (handset), noodle, soy sauce, dried turnip (Chhai pov). The soldiers and families thanked association for helping them during the needed time. General Chhin Chanpor praised the private sector; especially GMAC for the generous contribution to the front line men.<<Detail >>
ANNUAL SOCIALTRAINING 2011
Gawon, Phnom Penh: On 30 April and 1 May 2011, there was an annual training called “VISION 2011” at Gawon factory, which was presided over by H.E Pich Sophoin, Secretary of State of Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training. Mr. Ly Tek Heng, GMAC Operations Manager praised Ms Mercedes Cha, Director General of Gawon Apparel Co., Ltd. for her good training activities annually to help Cambodian workers to know how to live, work, andcare about themselves, united as one in their workplace. <<Detail>>
To brain storm the Private Sector on the EU and ASEAN business linkages that lead to the development of the ASEAN & EU business communities and the coming 2nd EU-ASEAN Business Council at the EU-ASEAN Summit on April 1st 2012 in Phnom Penh. More Detail in 
