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Labour, strategic location, FTAs give Cambodia edge in electronics sector

The Kingdom has a young and highly cost-competitive workforce ideal for manufacturing various types of electronics components. Sixty-four percent of its 16 million population is under 35 years of age, with minimum wages in the country currently set at $194 per month, which is at least 10-20 percent lower than other major manufacturing hubs in the region.

Cambodia has already identified the potential of the electronics sector in exports as well as attracting foreign direct investments into the country.

It has also prepared a roadmap for the sector, highlighting the goals to be achieved in the future. While looking at the various aspects of developing the industry, the roadmap also earmarks the country’s competitive advantages.

Its major advantages in the electronics sector include a cost-competitive labour workforce, strategic location, and favourable trade agreements with top electronics export markets. The country has FTAs with Asean, China, Japan and the US.

“Cambodia has a young and highly cost-competitive workforce ideal for manufacturing various types of electronics components. Sixty-four percent of its 16 million population is under 35 years of age, with minimum wages in the country currently set at $194 per month, which is at least 10-20 percent lower than other major manufacturing hubs in the region,” the Cambodia Electronics Roadmap (Draft) pointed out.

Besides, the adult literacy rates have also improved rapidly from 78 percent in 2008 to 88 percent in 2019, indicating a clear advantage for the country in selecting the workers for the industry. The literacy rate is even higher among the younger generation of workers.

Another major advantage is its workers’ considerable experience in working in the textile and garments industry, catering to the export market.

“Cambodia also has the advantage of hosting a major textile and garments industry, which employs a million workers whose dexterity and work ethic are transferrable to manufacturing micro-components in the electronics sector,” it said.

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Author: Adur Pradeep

Source: Khmer Times 

May 01, 2022