PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet has announced that the modernisation and promotion of Cambodia's connectivity, especially the construction project of Funan Techo Canal to link the Mekong system to the sea route, is not a secret.

“The only reason for connectivity projects is to expand and strengthen the economic potential of Cambodia, improve the labour market and enhance the living standards of people,” the Premier underlined while presiding over the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new container terminal phase 1 together with the inauguration for the official use of two units of mobile harbour crane under ODA loan and grant aid from the Government of Japan at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, Preah Sihanouk province this morning.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet explained that the Royal Government has no reason to hide these important projects as they are for the nation and the people.

In addition, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to further develop and expand the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port to become a main logistic hub in the region.

Once in operation scheduled for 2026, the US$243 million new container terminal-phase 1 with 350 metres in length and 14.50 metres in depth will allow larger container vessels with a capacity of 60,000 DWT (approximately 4,000 TEUs) to dock at the port.

The new container terminal will help the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port to match the ocean freight cost of the neighbouring countries in the region, and this could boost the trade and economic activities of Cambodia, said Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet.

“The deep-sea container terminal will help increase the flow of goods in and out of Cambodia. This will make maritime shipments through Cambodia's deep-sea port more profitable,” he added.

The second phase of the container terminal project is expected to be completed in 2028 and it will increase the port's container handling capacity to 120,000 DWT (approximately 10,000 TEUs).

The third phase, to finish in 2029, will further boost the handling capacity to 160,000 DWT (15,000 TEUs) and will expand the shipping network to cover Europe, America and the whole world.

The second and third phases would cost some US$698 million, of which more than US$500 million is a soft loan from the Government of Japan and the rest is a budget of the Royal Government of Cambodia, according to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.