尽管竞争激烈，柬埔寨服装行业仍显增长

'Cambodian garment sector growing despite competition'

The garment and footwear sector of Cambodia is growing despite tougher competition from regional players like Myanmar and Bangladesh, according to the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia (GMAC). However, the growth rate has come down to single digit and exports grew by four per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of this year.

Some buyers are now placing orders from countries like Myanmar and Bangladesh, and decreasing their sourcing from Cambodia, GMAC president Van Sou Ieng said at an event this week.

In 2016, total export value of around 600 GMAC members stood at $6.8 billion, which was nine per cent more than the previous year. However, this was slightly lower than the average annual growth rate of 10 per cent registered over the years, Sou Ieng said.

He was, however, optimistic about Cambodian travel goods industry due to duty-free privileges offered by the US since last July.

Speaking at the same event, Cambodian labour minister Ith Sam Heng applauded strong growth of garment sector, which employs 750,000 people. He said the minimum wage is currently at $153 per month and along with other additional benefits, workers take home around $170-180 per month.

译文如下：

尽管竞争激烈，柬埔寨服装行业仍显增长

柬埔寨服装制造商协会(GMAC)表示，尽管来自缅甸和孟加拉国等地区的竞争更加激烈，柬埔寨的服装和鞋类行业仍在增长。然而，今年第一季度，该国的经济增长率已降至个位数，出口同比增长了4%。

柬埔寨服装制造商协会会长Van Sou Ieng在本周的一场活动中说，一些买家现在正在从缅甸和孟加拉国等国采购，并减少从柬埔寨的采购。

2016年，600名GMAC成员的总出口收入达68亿美元,比前一年增加了9%。不过，Sou Ieng表示，这一数字略低于过去几年10%的平均年增长率。

不过，他对柬埔寨的旅游业感到乐观，因为自去年7月以来，美国提供了免税优惠。

在同一活动中，柬埔寨劳工部长Ith Sam Heng称赞服装行业的强劲增长，该行业雇用了75万人。他说，目前最低工资是每月153美元，连同其他额外福利，工人带回家的收入大约每月170 - 180美元。