With the minimum wage to increase from $153 to $170, the garment and footwear sectors need to boost productivity and cut down costs if they are to remain competitive in international markets, according to a report released on Monday by ASEAN + 3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO). Cambodian factory owners should now endeavor to ramp up efficiency at their facilities, while the public sector should do its part in improving logistics infrastructure and reducing the cost of electricity, the report says. The new minimum wage for the garment and footwear sectors will kick in January next year, and will be higher than those of other countries with large garment industries, such as Bangladesh and Myanmar. (Source: Khmer Times)