The logistics centre and multi-purpose port investment project in Kampot province was launched on Thursday with an investment capital of US$1,500 million.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held in Bokor city on May 5 under the presidency of Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Chea Sophara, Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction; H.E. Sun Chanthol, Senior Minister, Minister of Public Works and Transport, as well as provincial leaders and relevant stakeholders.
Built on an area of 600 hectares in Prek Tnaot commune, Bokor city, Kampot province, the project, invested by Kampot Logistics and Port Co. Ltd., will significantly contribute to Cambodia’s maritime transport and logistics development.
The mega investment project is planned to be carried out in three phases. The first one would cost an investment capital of about US$200 million.
The project includes container grounds, special economic zones, free trade zones, logistics centre, warehouses, manufacturing and distribution plants, refineries and fuel centres, residential and tourist areas.
The multi-purpose port location has a water depth of about 15 metres and can accommodate ships of 100,000 tonnes. It will have the capacity to handle about 300,000 TEUs in and out by 2025 and about 600,000 TEUs by 2030.
Speaking at the function, H.E. Chea Sophara said that the Kampot logistics centre and multi-purpose port are the opening of a new page in the history of Kampot and Cambodia.
The project is the first large international project ever invested by a local private company that will meet the needs of economic and social development, although Cambodia has already two major state ports –Sihanoukville Autonomous Port and Phnom Penh Autonomous Port, as well as some private ports, H.E. Chea Sophara stressed.
“We hope that the Kampot logistics centre and multi-purpose port investment project will enhance Cambodia’s logistics and port services to be more diverse and competitive with neighbouring ports,” he said.
The Royal Government of Cambodia is preparing a “Master Plan for the Development of Sihanoukville into a Multi-Purpose Special Economic Zone” set out in the Cambodian Industrial Development Policy 2015-2025, he added, underlining that the Kampot logistics centre and multi-purpose port investment project will also play an important role in helping to successfully implement this master plan, which will help turn Cambodia into a high-middle-income economy by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050.
The deep seaport is located in a favorable area for connecting water, land and rail transportation systems to Phnom Penh and provinces through National Roads No. 3, No. 41, No. 4, Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, National Road No. 48 and connecting the southern railway (Southern Line) to the Northern Line of the country.
Source: Agence Kampuchea Press