Preah Sihanouk on a roll: Province to become multi-investment hub
Preah Sihanouk on a roll: Province to become multi-investment hub
Preah Sihanouk on a roll: Province to become multi-investment hub
Prime Minister Hun Sen said yesterday that Preah Sihanouk province will be developed into a hub following multiple investments from overseas.
Speaking during a meeting with civil servants in the province, Mr. Hun Sen said Preah Sihanouk is seeing development by investors of various nationalities.
“Our main purpose is to establish Preah Sihanouk province as a multiple-investment hub,” he said.
“We have seen Sihanoukville has developed its water, land, and air transportation systems and has become a transport hub for connectivity,” he said, adding that Preah Sihanouk province has two Special Economic Zones set up by Chinese and Japanese investors.
“From a tourism site, it will become an International Financial Centre in the future. This is our dream and we hope the younger generation will continue this vision,” Mr. Hun Sen said.
He also said that authorities have installed some 500 security cameras in Sihanoukville to ensure the safety of citizens and investors and are putting in place a smart streetlight system to reduce electricity costs.
About 5,000 smart streetlights will be installed in the city.
Mr. Hun Sen also said the province is restoring and expanding road networks, about 94 percent of which have been completed, to attract more local and international tourists.
In November last year, the government, with the attendance of Prime Minister Hun Sen, began the $294-million restoration and expansion project of 34 roads, spanning 82.145 kilometers, on the country’s coast.
Mr. Hun Sen also praised efforts by relevant authorities, especially the National Committee for Cambodia Bay Management Development, to construct streets along beaches in the province.
“In the future, there will be road connectivity linking O’Chhoeuteal, O’tres, and Ream beaches,” he said.
Mr. Hun Sen also addressed the unfounded accusation that Cambodia has allowed China’s military to use the Cambodian naval base in Ream commune in Prey Nop district.
He noted that recently an ambassador sent a message to a senior minister and also a Deputy Prime Minister. “The message said we allowed the Chinese navy to use Ream port and that Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen does not know about this issue because [Defence Minister] General Tea Banh had allowed them to do it,” Mr. Hun Sen said.
He said he would like to inform the ambassador that in Cambodia there is no separation of powers and everyone needs to report everything to the Prime Minister.
“We will never allow any foreigners to use our country to set up naval bases,” Mr. Hun Sen said. “I would like to reaffirm that Cambodia is an independent and territorially sovereign country and we will not allow foreign military bases in Cambodia’s territory.”
“Ream naval base welcomes all warships to dock there, or to hold joint military exercises with Cambodia,” he added.
Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute of Royal Academy of Cambodia, said yesterday the United States should stop accusing Cambodia of allowing China’s military to use Ream naval base.
“If the United States is willing to mend bilateral relations, please stop accusing Cambodia anymore,” he said. Khmer Times
