Textile and Apparel
Cambodia stands as a textile and apparel powerhouse in Southeast Asia, recognized by the World Trade Organization as the 8th largest global apparel exporter in 2023 and employing more than 900,000 workers. Building on this strength, the Royal Government of Cambodia is driving transformation through strategic initiatives like the “Cambodia Apparel, Footwear, and Travel Goods (GFT) Sector Development Strategy 2022–2027” and the “Industrial Transformation Map for the Textile and Apparel Industry 2023–2027”. The goal is to transform the sector into an environmentally sustainable, resilient, and high value-added industry. Key priorities include encouraging investment in local raw materials and intermediate goods supply chain to substitute imports, increasing productivity through automation and innovation, and advancing sustainable manufacturing practices to align with global trends and attract environmentally conscious investors.
Cambodia is a dynamic hub for textile and apparel manufacturing, offering abundant and competitive investment opportunities. Since the 1990s, exports from the apparel, textile, and footwear sectors have grown significantly. The industry is largely export-oriented, highly integrated into global supply chains, and has attracted a steady flow of foreign investment, positioning Cambodia as a leading destination for textile and apparel manufacturing.
Data from the General Department of Customs and Excise indicates that Cambodia’s GFT exports grew substantially in 2024, rising 24% to approximately US$13 billion from US$10 billion in 2023. FDI momentum complemented this growth as the Council for the Development of Cambodia approved 414 investment projects in 2024, with the GFT sector accounting for a significant 40% of these approvals.