Development of Sihanoukville port ‘key to more connectivity’

The port is becoming increasingly important for the region, said the Japanese Foreign Minister on a visit to the Kingdom.  Sihanoukville Autonomous Port

The statement came from the Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry after Motegi’s meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday, the second day of his two-day stay in the Kingdom.

According to the statement, Motegi also said: “Japan intends to continue to actively support the economic development of Cambodia.”

The statement also quoted PM Hun Sen as having expressed his appreciation for Japan’s assistance in Cambodia’s development.

Cambodia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry on Saturday said the progress of major projects in Cambodia were discussed at the meeting, including a new container port at Sihanoukville and National Road 5, which are set to contribute to expanding investment activities and increased trade between the two countries.

Port chairman and CEO Lou Kim Chhun and its deputy director-general of business Thai Rithy could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Last year, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Strategic Partnership with the port. The signing, by  Kim Chhun and Shigenori Ogawa, director general of JICA’s  Southeast Asia and Pacific Department, took place at JICA headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.

JICA said in a statement last year, due to dramatic economic growth in Cambodia, Sihanoukville port is becoming an ever more important domestic and regional logistic hub. The annual amount of container cargo handling at the port increased to more than 540,000 Cargo containers (TEUs) in 2018, from 290,000 TEUs in 2013.

“Due to this situation, the Sihanoukville port requires development and operational management within this special economic zone. It is vital in order for its continued modernisation and competitiveness,” it said.

It said JICA will continue to provide various forms of funding and cooperation, such as the Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan project called: “Sihanoukville Port New Container Terminal Development Project” and the grant aid project called: “The Project for Port electronic data interchange (EDI) for Port Modernization” for further development of Sihanoukville Port.

During a meeting between PM Hun Sen and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last year, Japan insisted it was committed to providing continuous support for Sihanoukville port, including the development of a master plan for the port.

Director-general of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia Kin Phea, told Khmer Times yesterday that sea waterways in the Kingdom need a port with deep water which can accommodate larger ships to dock.

“We see that economic activities and sea transport are increasing in and around Cambodia,” he said.

“When any country gains investment from Japan, it is hugely beneficial for that country. However, it is also a credit to them, as Japan takes into consideration the political outlooks of any country it invests in, including the legal system, human resources, level of corruption and judicial system which will protect its investment,” he said. Source from Khmertimes.