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Cambodia: Skills, tech crucial for textile and apparel industry’s growth
Skills and technology are key factors in driving the success of Cambodian textile and apparel industry, according to the objectives of the government’s Industrial Transformation Map for Textile and Apparel Industry 2023-2027 (T&A ITM).
The map is designed and formulated based on the evaluation of the global and Cambodian T&A sector and the government’s Cambodia Garment, Footwear and Travel Goods Sector Development Strategy 2022-2027.
Talking about the textile and apparel sector, Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth said in the report: “The Textile and apparel (T&A) industry has been one of Cambodia’s priority sectors and has contributed significantly to Cambodia’s socio-economic development. Since 1990s, this sector has been continuously transformed into a growth pillar based on political stability and peace, competitive wage and production cost, preferential trade access and favourable investment environment, all of which have been the industry’s competitive advantage. Overall, this industry has played a key role in Cambodia’s export and supported people’s livelihood of at least 2.5 to 3 million people who have benefitted from this industry.”
As part of skill development, the government will promote the implementation of large-scale skilling to fill in the present and future skill gaps, build the capacity of human resources to use ICT technologies, and implement other key initiatives to improve the skills-development ecosystem in the textile and apparel industry.
It suggested some key measures, including the development of a skills framework for the T&A industry.
“A Skills Framework provides up-to-date information on employment, career pathways, occupations, job roles, existing and emerging skills, and competencies, as well as relevant education and training programs. It also provides a list of training programs for upskilling. The government will collaborate with the private sector in the textile and apparel industry to disseminate and communicate skills development framework to employees and workers, employers, higher education institutions, technical and vocational training institutions, and factories,” it noted.
The study also called for the development of national digital and online learning apps and platforms for the sector. It pointed out that Cambodia has one of the highest penetrations of mobile phones in the world and the share of smartphones among mobile phone users is significantly high. Mobile learning can be an effective way to bring education to individuals, it said, adding that standard curriculums with a full suite of training materials, preferably bite-size and stackable may be made available through mobile apps.
The government in collaboration with the private sector looks to promote the development of standard curriculums on the e-learning platform and mobile apps for the masses to learn and upskill in the T&A industry.
“Programs available on the portal will include, but are not limited to, basic literacy for Khmer and common business foreign languages, workplace numeracy, and STEM,” the report indicated.
It also noted that the promotion of experiential learning modules and internships of three to six months is an integral part of education and skilling especially for diploma and degree qualifications. The government encourages the private sector to provide support through a stipend to the trainees during the internship period. Meanwhile, the government will provide incentives to the trainees and companies post-completion of the course and placement.
Cambodia will also collaborate with the private sector to establish a strong network in order to communicate the skills in demand across the market. Employers have to involve in each phase of skilling – from conceptualisation to implementation.
Another significant area is the enhancement of job portals, it indicated.
“With the development of ITC such as big data and artificial intelligence, job websites such as WorkNet, CamHR, Job Cambodia, etc. are an effective way to recruit and find jobs through the improvement of the awareness level among the potential employers and trainees/job seekers. “In this regard, the TAFTAC and other relevant institutions in the T&A industry will increase the dissemination of the abovementioned job websites and how to use them to students, workers and employers throughout the education and training curriculum and job fairs,” it noted.
Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501281965/skills-tech-crucial-for-textile-and-apparel-industrys-growth/