Sok Siphana, a senior minister and chairman emeritus of the Board of Directors of the Asian Vision Institute, said 2024 is the year to implement the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era and the China-Cambodia People-to-People Exchange Year.

“China-Cambodia economic and trade cooperation will continue to deepen and become a driving force for the China-Cambodia economy as well as an important driving force for sustainable social development,” he told Xinhua in a recent interview.

“The potential of China-Cambodia tourism cooperation will continue to be better explored, and Cambodia’s infrastructure investment will achieve a higher growth,” he added.

Siphana said the construction of the “Industrial Development Corridor” and the “Fish and Rice Corridor” will achieve new developments.

He said Cambodia’s economic growth is expected to rebound to 5.8 percent in 2024, citing a World Bank’s recent report.

The senior minister said Cambodia and China had achieved good results in their trade and investment ties in 2023 amid declining global demand, saying that the two-way trade increased last year, as China’s investment in Cambodia accounted for 66 percent of the kingdom’s foreign investment sources.

He said China had been Cambodia’s largest trading partner for 12 consecutive years and remained the Southeast Asian country’s biggest source of foreign direct investment.

Siphana said the formal entry into force of the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) have injected vitality into the continued growth of the bilateral trade volume.

According to him, Cambodia’s rice, cassava, bananas, mangoes, longans, peppers, and other categories of high-quality agricultural products are approved to be exported to China.

Durians and bird’s nest are currently undergoing market access assessment, he said, adding that China has become the largest export market for Cambodian bananas and longans.

Siphana said Cambodia is committed to maintaining its high-level diplomacy with China and supporting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

“The BRI is an important factor in attracting more Chinese investment,” he said.

The senior minister added that the BRI is deeply aligned with the first phase of Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy, enriching the “Diamond Hexagon” cooperation framework between the two countries, as well as playing an important role in Cambodia’s economic development and improvement of people’s livelihood.

He highlighted flagship BRI projects in the kingdom, including the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport officially launched last November, the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway formally put into operation in November 2022, and the ongoing construction of the second expressway from Phnom Penh to Bavet.

“A large number of infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, airports, and ports implemented by Chinese-funded enterprises have promoted Cambodia’s economic development and connectivity,” Siphana said.

He added that the construction of hydropower stations and transmission grids invested by China, the construction of multiple industrial parks such as the Sihanoukville Special Economy Zone, and the construction of car tire and cement plants have improved the level of industrialization in Cambodia and created a large number of jobs and tax revenues for the kingdom.

“Investments from Chinese technology companies have also expanded Cambodia’s digital economy and green economy,” he said. “China and Cambodia have achieved outstanding results in jointly building a high-quality, high-level, and high-standard community with a shared future.

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Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet made the request in a meeting with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong in Beijing on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

PM Hun Manet also expressed satisfaction with the growing bilateral relations between the two countries, including the increase in trade and tourism, as well as cooperation in defense and human resource training.

President reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to maintaining close ties and cooperation with Cambodia for the mutual benefit of the two nations and peoples.

He also suggested increasing the exchange of high-level visits, expressing his intention to invite Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, former Prime Minister Hun Sen, and Hun Manet to visit Vietnam.

The two leaders also spoke highly of the progress of Cambodia-Vietnam cooperation in all areas, especially defense, security, trade, investment, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

On May 18, 2023, a Public-Private Partnership Agreement was signed between Cambodian Senior Minister and Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol and Zhou Yong, representative of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), for the construction of the Cambodian second expressway, Phnom Penh-Bavet expressway.

The project, which is 135.10 km long and runs through Kandal, Prey Veng, and Svay Rieng provinces, will be built at a cost of approximately $1.35 billion, with a construction period of 4 years under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) investment form. The expressway will be 4 lanes and operate for 50 years before being transferred to the Royal Government.

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The first expressway, the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, was inaugurated in November 2022. The 187-kilometer expressway cost $2 billion to build and is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities by half.

A second expressway, the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway, is currently under construction. The 135-kilometer expressway is expected to cost $1.35 billion and will be completed in 2023.

A third expressway, the Phnom Penh-Siem Reap-Poipet Expressway, is in the planning stages. The 400-kilometer expressway is expected to cost $4 billion and will be completed in 2024.

A fourth expressway is also planned for the northeast region of Cambodia. The expressway would connect the provinces of Kratie, Mondulkiri, Ratanakkiri, Stung Treng, and Preah Vihear.

The construction of these expressways is a major investment by the Cambodian government. The government believes that the expressways will help to boost economic growth by making it easier and faster for goods and people to move around the country.

The expressways are also expected to boost tourism. The Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway has already made it easier for tourists to travel to the popular beach resort city of Sihanoukville. The other expressways are expected to have a similar effect on tourism in other parts of Cambodia.

The construction of the expressways is a major undertaking, but the Cambodian government is confident that the investment will pay off in the long run. The expressways are expected to improve transportation, boost economic growth, and attract more tourists to Cambodia.

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The construction of the fourth expressway took place after the announcement of the third Phnom Penh-Poipet-Siem Reap expressway project, which is scheduled to open at the end of 2024, and after the second’s Phnom Penh-Bavet expressway project has just been approved by Samdech Techo Hun Sen opens the construction site on the morning of June 7, 2023.

The estimated cost for the third Phnom Penh-Siem Reap-Poipet expressway is $4 billion, while the second Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway is expected to cost $1.35 billion, and the first expressway, Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville, will launch at the end of 2022 with an investment of over $2 billion.

The northeast region of Cambodia is known for stunning natural scenery, including rivers, forests, waterfalls, and national parks, and is home to a variety of ethnic minority groups with unique cultures, traditions, and languages. With a relatively undeveloped tourism industry compared to other parts of the country, this region offers a chance to experience Cambodia’s less traveled path.

The fourth expressway connecting to the northeast region of Cambodia could potentially lead to an increase in tourism in the area, as it would make it more accessible and convenient for visitors to travel there.

This, in turn, could have both positive and negative impacts on the region’s economy and culture. Increased tourism could bring in more revenue and job opportunities for locals, but it could also lead to overdevelopment and the loss of natural beauty and cultural authenticity. Ultimately, it would depend on how the development is managed and if efforts are made to preserve the region’s unique characteristics.

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The groundbreaking ceremony was held in Kean Svay district, Kandal province under the presidency of Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen and H.E. Wang Wentian, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia. H.E. Sun Chanthol, Senior Minister and Minister of Public Works and Transport said that the construction project would cost some US$1.35 billion under Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contract for 50 years.

The second expressway, whose construction would last 48 months until 2027 by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), will pass through Kandal, Prey Veng, and Svay Rieng provinces, H.E. Senior Minister added. “This expressway will significantly improve goods transport and people’s travel and promote trade and tourism between Cambodia, Vietnam, and ASEAN as a whole,” he underlined.

H.E. Sun Chanthol pointed out that along with the expressway construction, the Royal Government has decided to build a bridge across the Mekong River, liking Dey Ith commune of Kean Svay district to Thmar Kor commune of Lover Em district, Kandal province, at an estimated cost of US$232,58 million.

The Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway is shorter than the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, which is 187 kilometers long and cost some US$2 billion. Besides, Cambodia is also planning to build the third expressway from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap province which is currently under feasibility study.

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PHNOM PENH: The construction of the 138km long Phnom Penh-Bavet expressway is set to begin on June 7, 2023, with the groundbreaking ceremony being prepared by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

The ministry recently organized a working group meeting, chaired by the H.E. Secretary of State, to prepare for the ceremony. The meeting, which was attended by ministry leaders and technical officers, outlined the responsibilities and roles of working group members to ensure the coordination and success of the program.

The Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway infrastructure project is set to become Cambodia’s second expressway, providing a much-needed boost to the country’s transportation network and spurring economic growth in the region.

The project, estimated to cost $1.4 billion, is expected to be completed by late 2026 or early 2027, providing a fast, convenient link between Phnom Penh and the border town of Bavet.

The agreement to build the road was signed in November 2022 between the Cambodian government and a Chinese state-owned construction company. The expressway will not only improve connectivity between the two cities but also open up opportunities for more efficient trade and commerce, making Cambodia a more attractive destination for foreign investors.

 

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The Ministry of Public Works and Transport revealed that the groundbreaking ceremony for Cambodia’s second expressway would be chaired by its Prime Minister, Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

The Senior Minister of Public Works and Transport, Sun Chanthol, reported that the expressway will stretch roughly 138 kilometers long and feature a lengthy bridge across the Mekong River, measuring about 5 kilometers when the bridge and connecting road are taken into account.

The projected budget is around $1.638 million, according to the Senior Minister, which is lesser than the Sihanoukville budget, but the road will also be shorter than the Sihanoukville Expressway. The Senior Minister anticipates that the road will be finished by the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027.

Furthermore, the expressway is crucial in linking China from Burma to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, as per Senior Minister Sun Chanthol.

The post The Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway’s groundbreaking in June first appeared on Estatedia | Economy & Real Estate Media in Cambodia.

The announcement was made while presiding over the graduation ceremony for over 5,000 teachers, technical students, and National Technical Training Institute students on February 27, 2023.

“The Royal Government decided to build a bridge with a budget of about 230 million dollars to connect to the other side, passing through Kandal, part Prey Veng, and part Svay Rieng,” Prime Minister Hun Sen said.

Sun Chanthol, Senior Minister of Public Works and Transport, stated that the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway construction would start in early 2023, following Prime Minister Hun Sen’s three-day visit to China. However, the project was delayed until June due to the Chinese side’s delay in reviewing the case file.

On December 10, 2022, the government and Chinese companies completed the study project for the expressway’s construction. The 138-kilometer-long Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway will cost $1,638 million US dollars. The second expressway in Cambodia is critical for connecting China to Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

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At the review meeting results of 2022 and the work direction of 2023 of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport on February 15, Senior Minister Sun Chanthol stated, it’s clear that nothing changes, we start to deliver the machines, and the construction site is underway. We have completed the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway concession agreement and PPP.

The agreement was signed following a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Samdech Techo and Premier Li Keqiang, but China’s internal procedures were slow to be completed due to Covid-19 and the Chinese New Year, so there is a slight delay in the preparation of internal documents, the minister added.

Sun Chanthol, Senior Minister, stated, “To be clear, the construction of the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway has not been canceled or delayed. We could sign tomorrow, but the Chinese Prime Minister cannot testify because internal procedures have not been completed.”

Furthermore, the Senior Minister stated that Samdech Techo Hun Sen had requested that the procedure be expedited. Still, the Chinese company promised that the construction site would begin in June 2023 and would be completed in 2027, parallel to the expressway from Ho Chi Minh to Mok Bai in the same year.

Phnom Penh-Bavet construction is set to begin in the middle of 2023, with a construction budget of $1,638 million. This expressway is critical in connecting China to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam via ASEAN Road No. 1, which Cambodia is expanding from two to four lanes from Poipet to Phnom Penh and connecting from Phnom Penh to Bavet on the second expressway to allow goods and passengers from China to pass through.

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According to H.E. Sun Chanthol, Senior Minister and Minister of Public Works and Transport, the study for Cambodia’s third expressway is currently underway.

During the Tuesday opening ceremony of a new vehicle technical check center in Phnom Penh, he stated: “Four private companies are conducting feasibility studies on the Phnom Penh-Siem Reap expressway project.

According to him, the expressway’s construction will shorten the distance between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, bringing more tourists to the region’s cultural attractions.

After the Kingdom opened the first expressway, which cost US$2 billion and connected Phnom Penh to the coastal province of Preah Sihanouk, the third expressway project has been announced. The capital is connected to Bavet city, which is on the Vietnamese border and is the second expressway.

According to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the 138-kilometer Phnom Penh-Bavet expressway is expected to be completed in 2023 at an estimated cost of US$1.6 billion.

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