EIF worked to promote Cambodia's high-value silk exports, increasing the competitiveness of the silk sector to create jobs, particularly for women, support export diversification, reduce poverty and boost income growth. Cambodian companies benefitted from individual coaching, advisory support and training to develop their products and markets.

Results:

• 100% increase in weavers’ monthly average income from silk weaving from 2012 to 2016.
• 88 new jobs created by 14 project beneficiary companies since 2012.
• 168 weavers newly contracted by the 14 project beneficiary companies since 2012.
• Contacts were established with more than 300 prospective buyers in Europe, the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, resulting in more than US$200,000 of new orders concluded or under negotiation. ITC facilitated the establishment of five new sales outlets in Phnom Penh for sales to the tourist market.
• 1 SME registered as Guaranteed Fair Trade Organization by the World Fair Trade Organization.

Rice is the largest employment sector of the Cambodian economy, and EIF worked to increase the competitiveness of Cambodian rice exports, resulting in better earnings for rice millers and farmers in the milled rice supply chain.

Results:

• The project facilitated US$72,497,774 of rice exports over the January-December 2015 period (with fragrant rice accounting for more than half of the facilitated exports). An estimated 268,842 metric tonnes (MT) worth US$146,618,197 was facilitated by the project (in conjunction with the Cambodia Rice Sector Support Project (RSSP).
• Branding strategy for Cambodian rice was endorsed by the CRF. Angkor Malis was selected as the key brand for international markets to present the Cambodian rice brand for export quality fragrant rice.
• 3 new markets procured for Cambodian rice (USA, EU, China).
• 11 Cambodian rice mills became Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) certified and one Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) certified.
• Cambodia won the world’s best rice award three years in a row and the DNA fingerprint of Cambodia fragrant rice varieties was established. The DNA fingerprint of one Cambodian rice variety (Somaly) established as a benchmark against which rice (DNA) purity can be analysed.

EIF worked with the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts (RACA) to improve services in the hospitality sector.

Results:

• Appropriate green technology such as solar water heating and solar electricity generation for the needs of the Academy installed.
• A train the trainer session, for the Academy’s faculty, conducted by representatives of the Swiss Hotel Management School, before the first student intake in March 2017.
• Six short courses for non-professionals were developed and were implemented in December 2016 and continued in the first quarter of 2017. The topics include: Christmas cookies, how to prepare the perfect steak, Valentine dinner, table setting, pasta, basic sushi.

Cambodia is the third biggest exporter of cassava in the world, but has yet to capture more value addition from the sector. EIF worked in market diversification, capacity building to cassava associations and exporters/processors.

Results: 

• An up-to-date cassava value chain study was completed and disseminated. The study focuses on the two main components: export of cassava chips and export of processed cassava (starch, flour, ethanol). SPS requirements for key export markets were identified as well as the role of women in value generation.
• Eight cassava associations in the four target provinces of the project were created and registered with the MoC.
• 70 members of eight cassava associations trained in the roles and functions of cassava associations in September 2015, and 90 members trained in contract farming and its application in the cassava sector in June 2015.
• Workshop on trade facilitation and export procedures of cassava-based products organized in Battambang in June 2016 with 85 participants from the private sector (8 cassava associations, 32 private companies) and officials from the sub-national administration.

Cambodia’s marine fishery sector employs thousands, but is almost entirely artisanal and traditional with no major domestic processing facilities. The Government of Cambodia has identified marine fisheries as a key sector for export diversification, and EIF helped to ensure that the needs of the marine fisheries product export sector are better understood, and to improve the business environment and restructure the sector so that players have an active role in the national policy dialogue. 

• Key issues affecting the marine fishery sector were identified and a roadmap for value chain development was completed. Fishery value chain development has been integrated into draft of Strategic Planning Framework for Fisheries (2015-2024).
• Supported the refurbishment of two processing facilities to comply with HACCP requirements.
• 184 people were trained in 2016 on good hygiene practices, the legal framework for marine fisheries, environmental impact mitigation, and HACCP.
• Fishery-related standards assessed and codes of practices jointly developed by Institute of Standards of Cambodia and Ministry of Industry to complement existing standards.