Xuejun Jiang, chief of ITC's office for Asia and the Pacific, said his organisation prioritised Cambodia's silk sector because an overwhelming 98 per cent of the country's 20,000 weavers are women.
“We have been working closely with many companies in the silk sector but only the private sector can make trade happen, of course this will require the strong support and commitment of the government,” he added.
In Cambodia, silk weaving is often a parallel activity to farming, allowing women to generate additional income. Silk is an important source of employment in Cambodia.
Government support, as well as international donor commitments, has been crucial to the success of Artisans Angkor, which operates a silk farm and workshops in Siem Reap province and is one of the country's largest producers of silk products.
Secretary-General of Artisans Angkor Vidano Kernem said the future of Cambodian's silk industry depends on the cultivation of sufficient mulberry trees to feed silkworms that produce high-quality silk, and for producers of this silk to develop creative designs that attract both local and international clients.
Cambodia currently imports 300 tonnes of silk annually to meet market demand. (SH)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India