Trade and Poverty Experiences from Cambodia CUTS Conference on “Trade, Development and Poverty Linkages: Lessons and Future Directions” June 23, 2009, Jaipur, India

Content 1.Overview on Cambodia Economy 2.Overview on Cambodia Trade 3.Linkage between Trade and Poverty – Experiences from Cambodia garment trade – Experiences from Cambodia tourism trade – Experiences from Cambodia agricultural trade 4.Challenges ahead

1.1. Overview on Cambodian Economy Double digit growth during last 4 years ( ) – Fast growing sectors: Garment export, Tourism trade services, Construction – Other sectors grew at a moderate rate 2008 GDP growth = 5.2 percent 2008 GDP = US$10.3 billion 2008 GDP per capita = US$703

1.2. Cambodian Economic Growth e Agriculture-1.0%15.5%5.5%5.1%4.8% Paddy-12.2%43.7%4.3%7.5%3.6% Industry17.0%12.9%18.4%8.4%3.1% Garments24.9%9.2%20.4%10.0%2.0% Construction13.2%22.1%20.0%6.7%3.0% Services13.2%13.1%10.1%10.2%6.7% Tourism23.4%22.3%13.7%10.3%5.7% Total GDP10.3%13.3%10.8%10.2%5.2% Non Agriculture GDP15.8%12.3%13.0%12.2%5.4% Source: NIS and EIC

1.3. Cambodia’s Economic Growth 2008 (Selected Sectors) Source: EIC data compiled from NIS

1.4. Economic Growth for 2009 Source: Data compiled from NIS and EIC

2.1. Trade and Economy Source: NIS and EIC

2.2. Export Share by Sector Total exports reached US$4.7 billion in Source: NBC

2.3. Export Share by Country Source: MOC

2.4. Import Share by Sector Source: NBC Total imports reached US$6.5 billion in 2008.

2.5. Import Share by Country Source: MOC

2.6. FDI Share by Sector Source: NBC FDI reached US$3.8 billion in the first quarter of 2008.

2.7. FDI Share by Country Source: NBC US$806 million FDI flew into Cambodia in 2008.

3.1. Trade and Poverty Poverty Rate Poverty rate reduced by 1 percent a year It was about 35 Percent in 2004 Incomes and Employments Trade Trade volume increase by percent per year

3.2. Garment trade Export-Oriented Industry High labor standard compliance required before exporting (Key linkage between trade and poverty) Generates direct incomes and employments to more than workers About 1 million people indirectly are deriving their income from garment industry: – Business around the factory such as food, housing, transportation, etc – Remittance: Families who have daughters/sons working in the garment sector are seen as better than those who are not. Garment trade helped to push poverty reduction pace

3.3. Tourism trade Siemreap province is the most popular tourist site in Cambodia. Siemreap is still among the poorest province in the country – Income and employment for tourist activities concentrate mostly in the Siemreap town Tourism trade has limited contribution to poverty reduction pace. Missing linkages are: – Lack of infrastructure that connects towns to rural areas – Lack of human resources

3.4. Agricultural trade Agriculture is the most important sector to Cambodia as percent of Cambodians are farmers Agricultural export represents about 20 percent of total good exports, but mostly done through informal channels However, the poorest people are mostly found among farmers. – Lack of market news and marketing skills among farmers, thus price is manipulated by external traders – Farmers lack knowledge on procedure/standards of export products – Lack of adequate infrastructure and irrigation system.

4. Challenges ahead During current global crisis: – Current decline in Garment exports in 2009 – Lower tourists in Cambodia in 2009 – Current decline in FDI in 2009 How to promote agricultural trade?

Thank You