Cross-Border Study of Textile Waste Trading between Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam

The Project at A Glance

Cambodia, Vietnam, and partially also Thailand have significant textile and garment industries, contributing significantly to their respective economies. Considering growing concern about waste trade around the world, International Economics is supporting the GIZ with a comprehensive examination and understanding of the legal framework and the volumes related to the topic of textile waste and its cross-border trade in Asia.

The project is being implemented under the “FABRIC Cambodia” Initiative and is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development (GIZ).

What We Found

The textile sector has significantly contributed to the growth of many countries’ economies, especially in the Global South, but together with rising production levels, textile waste has surged as well. A growing number of stakeholders, policymakers, and environmental advocates are increasingly recognizing the urgency of addressing the multifaceted issue of waste trade. In this context, International Economics will develop a study that will present an analysis of the trends and factors driving the trade of textile waste in Cambodia, and its neighbours Vietnam and Thailand. This study aims to offer insights and recommendations for cross-border trade in textile waste by examining trade volumes and the regulatory frameworks and procedures for textile waste trading between Cambodia and two of its neighbouring countries. This study will provide a practical guide to equip stakeholders and operators with the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate trade in textile waste.

Our Strategy and Impact

The assignment comprises a sequence of analytical steps to decode the intricacies of textile waste trading, including regional trends in textile waste trade, the demand for textile waste imports, and the legal requirements for exporting textile waste from Cambodia to Thailand and/or Vietnam. Our team will map tariff line codes for textile waste products to assess the volume and types of textile waste traded globally, which will be followed by the identification of key stakeholders in Cambodia. The team will then prepare an analysis of the legal framework in Thailand and Vietnam relating to importing textile waste from Cambodia. The aim would be to identify existing policies, laws, and regulations, including any trade restrictions and specific requirements to export textile waste products from Cambodia to Vietnam and Thailand. Based on the information gathered, our team will prepare a collective report on textile waste trade, synthesising findings into clear and feasible recommendations for Cambodian firms, governments and wider stakeholders to consider.

Our Core Solutions

As businesses seek to expand operations into new markets, the need to explore global supply chains and understand the international regulatory framework becomes crucial to competitively expand into new product/service lines and markets, reduce costs, increase revenue and reduce portfolio risks.

At International Economics Consulting, we build tailor-made strategies for both import and export-oriented business solutions. We carry out sensitivity analysis, and prepare detailed resource scheduling and standard performance dashboards to track the implementation process and financial ratio performance of your products and services. We can also work on corporate leadership and change management strategy. Finally, we develop the analytics and risk matrices and use our cognitive computing insights to update these in real-time.