Phnom Penh: Mr. Heng Sour, Minister of Labor and Vocational Training, and Mr. Christof Weigelmeier, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Development Cooperation of the German Embassy in Cambodia, were invited to witness the signing ceremony of the agreement for the implementation of the technical cooperation project “Sustainable Textile Industry in Cambodia Phase Two (FABRIC Cambodia II)” between the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the German Cooperation Agency (GIZ) on the morning of July 6, 2026, at the Ministry’s office, with the aim of continuing to promote sustainable supply chains and strengthen compliance with social and environmental standards in collaboration with the public and private sectors.
On that occasion, the Minister expressed his deep gratitude to the German government for its continued support and closer cooperation in the garment, footwear and bag (GFT) sector. The signing of this agreement demonstrates the strong commitment of the German people and government to support and share solidarity with the Cambodian people, especially workers and employees. This ceremony is more than an agreement to strengthen international partnerships and is a testament to the commitment to translate the lofty common goals into concrete, effective actions for the tangible benefits of workers, employees, and enterprises, and to help strengthen the foundations of the Cambodian economy.
With the success of the first phase of the project, he said that the garment, footwear and bag manufacturing sector, which continues to play a key role in driving economic growth, exports, jobs and employment, and social development in Cambodia, is undergoing a significant transformation as the global market increasingly focuses on environmental sustainability, high labor standards, and responsible business practices. The Royal Government of Cambodia considers promoting decent work, productivity, environmental sustainability, and rule of law as core priorities in the Pentagon Strategy Phase 1 and the Cambodian Garment, Footwear, and Bag Sector Development Strategy 2022-2027.
Mr. Heng Sour highly valued the long-term partnership with GIZ Beyond financial support, it focuses on knowledge exchange, institutional strengthening, policy dialogue, and capacity development, which significantly contributes to strengthening labor inspection systems, occupational safety and health, promoting responsible business practices, and workforce development, as well as helping Cambodia prepare to meet new international standards. The Ministry also continues to strengthen occupational safety and health practices, promote digitalization, and strengthen readiness to respond to international principles such as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Human and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD).
The success of this project requires close collaboration between government agencies Employers, worker representative organizations, development partners, civil society organizations, and international brands. Through commitment and partnership, the Minister firmly believes that this project will make a significant contribution to improving working conditions, strengthening environmental sustainability, promoting responsible business practices, and ensuring that the sector continues to remain competitive and resilient in global markets for the common good.
Meanwhile, Christof Weigelmeier said that Germany is proud to continue its cooperation with Cambodia through this important project to continue promoting labor rights, environmental and social standards, and support the development of the GFT sector. He emphasized that strengthening environmental, social, human rights standards, and compliance monitoring will help increase Cambodia’s competitiveness in global supply chains. He said that Germany is ready to continue supporting this project further and is committed to being a strong partner of Cambodia in its journey towards leaving the group of least developed countries.
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