The National Road No. 21 (NR21) plays an important role in facilitating all types of transport, especially goods and agricultural products between Cambodia and Vietnam, and in promoting development at the border areas.
The remarks were made by Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia on Wednesday at the inauguration ceremony of NR21 stretching over 63.6 kilometres linking Takhmao town to Koh Thom, at the border with Vietnam’s An Giang province.
NR21 is the nearest transport route between Cambodia and Vietnam, which will contribute to advancing the goods exchange between both countries, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said.
“The road is the gateway for importing electricity from Vietnam to Cambodia. Many Cambodia’s agricultural products are exported to Vietnam through the road and vice-versa, and in term of distance, the road is the nearest route to Vietnam,” he said.
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Korea for providing a concessional loan to build NR21.
“Currently, we are very proud of the progress, in particular the construction of NR21. In the past, the old road was very narrow,” Samdech Techo Hun Sen added.
The two-way trade between the two neighbouring countries soared to US$9.3 billion by the end of 2021, up to US$4 billion over 2020.
The leaders of the two countries have agreed to increase the two-way trade to US$10 billion in 2022.
Source: Agency Kampuchea Press