On Thursday 7th May 2024, EuroCham Cambodia, in partnership with the Responsible Business Hub Cambodia (The RBH Network), GIZ-FABRIC, the European Union in Cambodia, and the German Embassy in Cambodia, hosted a half-day discussion entitled “Empowering Responsible Businesses in Cambodia: Navigating Global Mandatory Standards on Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence” at Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh. The event explored mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (#mHREDD) legislation, the European Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (#CSDDD) and their implications for Cambodian businesses.
𝐇.𝐄. 𝐋𝐢𝐦 𝐒𝐮𝐲𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐠, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, gave opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of responsible business conduct in the Cambodian economy. Mr. Jost Kadel, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Development Cooperation, at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, then discussed the role of Germany in the Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (#HREDD) journey.
Mr. Kadel emphasized that the CSDDD does not constitute a new barrier to trade.
“It’s not about that. I’m sure that these acts reflect that European consumers expect their governments to hold companies accountable to the top responsible purchasing practices, and to push for the respect of human rights and environmental rights in the production processes.”
A series of presentations followed, before a panel discussion with Mr. Ken Loo, Secretary General of TAFTAC, and Ms. Chi Q. Do, Mr. Chhin Sophal, and Mr. Athit Kong. Mr. Loo said the garment industry has been aware of this incoming legislation for a long time, and that as long as each side (supplier, buyer, associated stakeholders) works together, he doesn’t foresee major problems with compliance.
Mr. Reinhard Junker, Acting Head of Unit Transformation of Sustainable Supply Chains, Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), discussed the rationale behind mHREDD legislation with Mr. Koen Everaert, First Secretary, Delegation of the EU to Cambodia, saying that adhering to due diligence principles should be thought of as an investment, not a cost.
During her presentation, Ms. Archana Kotecha, Founder and CEO of Remedy Project said that a fundamental problem with enforcing responsible business practices is that some view it as a “risk to business” problem when it’s a “risk to people and planet” problem.
As we work with the RBH to future-proof Cambodia in advance of the CSDDD’s implementation, we’d like to thank everyone for making this first awareness-raising step a success, including our distinguished speakers: Mr. Samaun Tiv and Mr. Nicholas Spencer.
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