Thursday, 14 August 2008

US Trade Mission Urges Transparency

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
13 August 2008

Khmer audio aired 13 August 2008 (601 KB) - Download (MP3)
Khmer audio aired 13 August 2008 (601 KB) - Listen (MP3)

Members of US trade mission arrived in Cambodia Wednesday, for talks on private sector dialogue and trade development with key government figures.

The delegation, led by Deputy US Trade Representative Christina Sevilla, held a forum late Wednesday to educate officials in US trade policymaking.

Trade between the two was $2.7 billion in 2007, with $3 billion expected in 2008, and the US is the chief buyer of Cambodia's manufactured garments.

The US mission recommended the government to increase transparency and dialogue with the private sector, as well as look for ways to build on each other's experience, Sevilla told reporters Wednesday.

Cambodia was doing "much better" with rights, wages and conditions in the labor field, compared to other neighboring countries, US Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli said.

Cambodia had many unions that did not always communicate well with factory management, he said.

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