The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) has begun gathering inputs to devise port zoning strategies as part of future port development projects in the Kingdom, Peng Ponea, Minister of Public Works and Transport, has said.
This came as he spoke at a workshop organized by the MPWT in association with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the title ‘Capacity Strengthening Project for Port Administration Management’.
Nagase Kensuke, Chargés d’Affaires a.i of the Embassy of Japan in Cambodia, took part in the workshop along with Sanui Kazumasa, Head of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Representative Office in Cambodia, ministry officials, Japanese experts, relevant national institutions, representatives of national and international organisations, development partners, and the private sector.
“Efforts are on to collect input to create a clear and comprehensive port zoning plan for Cambodia,” the minister said.
“This workshop is important in terms of providing expertise and additional inputs for the preparation and revision of this important document to ensure its effective implementation in line with Cambodian developmental goals.”
The minister thanked the Embassy of Japan in Cambodia, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), for their support and encouraged all attendees to provide valuable input to ensure the plan’s effective implementation, aligning with Cambodia’s current situation.
The Royal Government has already prepared a comprehensive plan for the development of ports in the maritime area.
This sets out the vision for the development of Cambodian seaports and the preparation of a master plan to transform Sihanoukville Port into a regional port and logistics center.
The vision also includes the development of new ports to promote the overall connection of water transport.
Cambodia currently has 103 ports, of which 26 are seaports and 77 are river ports, according to the ministry’s latest report.
River ports are located along the Mekong, Tonle Sap, and Bassac rivers. Among these ports, there are two international ports: Phnom Penh Autonomous Port (PPAP) (river port) and Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS), a seaport.
The PAS, the Kingdom’s largest seaport, earned gross revenue of KHR 114.78 billion (approximately $28.6 million) from January-March period of this year, a year-on-year increase of 16.89 percent.
Meanwhile, the PPAP, the country’s second-largest container hub, recorded a total revenue of KHR 41.9 billion 43.4 (approximately $10.4 million) during the same period, an increase of 27.2 percent compared to the first quarter a year earlier.
