The Cambodian government’s relentless push to improve the Kingdom’s logistics infrastructure got another boost this week with officials committing to build 11 new roads for Sihanoukville.
Already, the province is set to benefit from the 190 kilometre-long, $2 billion Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway due to be completed next year.
Earlier in 2021, the government completed a $294 million rehabilitation of 34 roads in the province.
“The new roads are actively under construction but I cannot [confirm] the progress of the construction because it is under the control of the [Ministry of Public Works and Transport], local media quoted provincial spokesman Kheang Phearum as saying.
Preah Sihanouk province is bolstering its logistics hub to better connect the rest of the country with the Kingdom’s only deep seaport.
Officials are upgrading Sihanoukville Autonomous Port’s cargo terminal – due to be complete by 2025 – to more than double its capacity so that it can receive 5,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).
TEU is the standard measurement for shipping capacity in the industry. The port can currently accommodate 2,000 TEUs. Increasing its capacity will require deepening the port to 40.5 metres from 20.5 metres.
Experts have previously expressed concern regarding the Kingdom’s ability to capitalise on free trade agreements because of the country’s lacklustre logistics infrastructure.
Improvements to Sihanoukville and better integrating it with the country are seen as being critical.
The government has also announced plans to build ASEAN’s second smart logistics hub in Phnom Penh and is planning to develop it into a sub-regional transport and logistics hub in the centre of the Greater Mekong Sub-region.
The World Bank in Cambodia ranked Cambodia 98th in the world for its logistics performance based on six metrics including customs clearance, infrastructure, international shipments, logistics competence, tracking and tracing, as well as timeliness.
The country earned a score of 2.8 out of 4 – below the regional average of 3.15 for the East Asia and Pacific bloc.
The global body forecasts that the country’s exports will reach $23.72 billion by 2025 and imports will top $26 billion.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50902755/govt-presses-forward-with-new-roads-for-sihanoukville/