The Pratex Asia factory is a model for women's participation, sustainable enterprise and corporate social responsibility. Dutch entrepreneur Piet Holten built this factory in Cambodia with the help of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
Pratex Asia shows the Cambodian textile industry how things should be done. The Pratex Asia factory manufactures products including high-quality eyeglass cleaning cloths for international brands including Oakley and Ray-Ban. The factory is in the Siem Reap region, a rural area without much industry. The arrival of the factory generated 160 jobs, 114 of which were given to women. They can count on maternity leave, child care in the factory and infant nursing rooms.
Good and safe working conditions
Pratex Asia provides employees with good and safe working conditions. They receive a living wage, free meals, a thirteenth month and a bonus if they perform well. Furthermore, there is enough daylight on the work floor, and the building is wheelchair accessible.
Rainwater collection for toilets
The factory meets the strict quality requirements for SA 8000, ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001. To satisfy these requirements, the factory has installed solar panels on the roof, it uses as little energy as possible, and it collects rainwater for the toilets, to name a few examples.
Training for employees
The company has introduced innovative textile printing methods in Cambodia, such as automated screen printing and embossing. Pratex Asia trains employees to master these techniques. They also receive instructions on quality control, compliance and occupational health and safety.
Would you like to know more?
In the video at the top of this page, Piet Holten from Pratex Asia explains how he was able to build this model factory with support from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
If you would like to do business in a developing country and could use help in getting financing the Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF) can offer a solution. Use our handy online finance tool to find out whether you are eligible for assistance provided through the DGGF.