In US, Cambodian Businesses Hurting
- From: Chim <ChimS1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 06:07:01 -0800 (PST)
In US, Cambodian Businesses Hurting
By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
06 January 2009
The economic downturn has begun hurting the US businesses of many
Cambodian-Americans.
“The clients won’t come, if there are a lot of layoffs in their work,”
U Makara, who runs a sushi restaurant in the state of Michigan, said
recently. “Sushi food is kind of an expensive food.”
People who had come in to eat two or three times per week were now
coming only once a week, he said, adding that he had yet to lay off
his own staff.
U Makara has 15 sushi branches throughout big groceries store in
Michigan. Making them work during an economic crunch meant having
twice-weekly sales.
He is not alone.
Im Sonith, a Cambodian living in the state of Alabama, owns two
grocery stores. His businesses have been hit by the crisis as well,
though he too is weathering the storm by putting his goods on sale.
“I have discounted some of my grocery products,” he said. “The grocery
companies have increased their product price, because the gasoline
price had increased, so they continued to increase the price of goods.
I dare not increase the price like them because people do not have
very much money to spend. I sell just to break even.”
Since the middle of 2008, many US businesses have been on the decline,
with major banks declaring bankruptcy and many people unable to afford
houses they purchased. Lately, restaurants, bars, grocery stores,
supermarkets, car companies and furniture stores are quiet and empty.
At least 2 million Americans have lost their jobs, and the auto
industry is facing major problems.
Mouy Chomreun, who has lived in America since 1975, has three
businesses: cars sales, car maintenance and taxi rental. His car sales
and repair businesses have fallen off 80 percent over last year, he
said.
“Compared to last year or the year before, my businesses for renting
cars and taxis is normal, but my auto mechanic business and my car
sales business have decreased so much,” he said, adding that he
planned to stop selling American-made cars and start selling those
made in Japan, such as Toyota.
“Now people are afraid of paying for their rent, rather than fixing
their cars,” he said. “For my old customers, who always came to my
garage, when I tell them that the repair cost will be between $400 and
$500, they are afraid of the cost. It is not like before.”
.
- Prev by Date: The Cambodian People’s Party will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Khmer Rouge
- Next by Date: vendors at the Beung Chhouk market in Battambang are protesting a move by a private company to force them out of their stalls and onto the streets
- Previous by thread: The Cambodian People’s Party will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Khmer Rouge
- Next by thread: vendors at the Beung Chhouk market in Battambang are protesting a move by a private company to force them out of their stalls and onto the streets
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
