The Cambodian Women Entrepreneurs Association (CWEA) and the Netherlands Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation will work together to strengthen the capacity of Cambodia’s women entrepreneurs.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed to this end on May 19 via video link by CWEA president Keo Mom and Henrique Postmar Hazelaar, a representative of the Dutch government unit.
Mom told The Post on May 20 that the MoU would focus on cooperation to provide training to women entrepreneurs in Cambodia to strengthen their capacity.
“We are studying their needs, what our shortcomings are. After the study, we will make a plan to help them, and this cooperation will help women entrepreneurs to increase their know-how and skills,” she said, adding that the MoU will be for one year, under the Netherlands Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation’s CBI project.
Cheng Sopheap, founder and president of Keiy Tambanh Khmer, a manufacturer of traditional fabrics and scarves, said that some women entrepreneurs still need to further strengthen their digital technology and leadership skills to improve their business operations.
Women entrepreneurs must strive to participate in various training courses to further strengthen their knowledge and skills, she said, stressing the importance of business innovation and developing public speaking skills.
A 2019 survey by the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation of 71 enterprises in the Kingdom found that they needed assistance in market research, service development, packaging, technology adoption, human resources, access to labour, access to finance, business registration, taxation and improving hygiene standards.
On December 23, the UN Development programme and the government, through the Ministry of Commerce, jointly launched a project to accelerate Cambodia’s e-commerce.
“The joint partnership aims to boost domestic and international opportunities for SMEs through a digital platform and create over 1,000 new jobs by 2022,” according to a joint press release.
“Under this joint initiative, 125 small and medium-sized businesses are expected to gain grants and training in e-commerce through a co-funding [partnership with the commerce ministry], the Enhanced Integrated Framework [EIF], the Australian government and UNDP,” it added.
