The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) has pledged to mobilise support from around 700 of its member companies for demining work in Cambodia, with a fund-raising event scheduled for November 17.
The pledge came at a meeting between Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), and GMAC deputy-director Albert Tan and Andrew Tey, director of the Cambodian Garment Training Institute, on October 27 at the CMAA headquarters in Phnom Penh.
At the meeting, the three sides discussed cooperating on mine clearance, in order to contribute to achieving Prime Minister Hun Sen's vision of a landmine-free Cambodia.
A CMAA press release quoted Tan as saying that GMAC was pleased to join the Government of Cambodia in demining work to help mine victims and support the success of clearing operations, as the Kingdom moved towards its goal of becoming mine free by 2025.
“They will mobilise support from about 700 of their member companies for demining work in Cambodia,” the press release read.
Thuch commended GMAC for joining the government in this much needed humanitarian work.
He thanked GMAC for its cooperation, and for initiating the idea of holding a fundraising event, in the presence of Hun Manet, deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and commander of the army.
Thuch said that the CMAA would use the funds to hit mine clearance targets in priority areas according to the needs of the people and the development of Cambodia. The three groups also signed a public-private partnership agreement on cooperation and capacity building exchanges.
The garment training institute has provided training to the leaders, officers and staff of the CMAA to strengthen their leadership capacity. It has also joined with the government to raise public awareness of mines and unexploded ordnance in Preah Vihear province’s Choam Ksan district.
