Cambodia officially began construction of a multipurpose deep-sea port in its southern Kampot province on May 5, after the project was delayed for about two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The port will cost US$1.5 billion and strengthen the country’s logistics and transportation sector, Deputy Prime Minister Che Sopala said at the groundbreaking ceremony in Bokor. Sopala said the investment came from local companies Kampot Logistics and Port, and the construction was undertaken by China’s Shanghai Construction Group and China Road and Bridge Corporation. “This versatile port will be a…
Cambodia officially began construction of a multipurpose deep-sea port in its southern Kampot province on May 5, after the project was delayed for about two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The port will cost US$1.5 billion and strengthen the country’s logistics and transportation sector, Deputy Prime Minister Che Sopala said at the groundbreaking ceremony in Bokor.
Sopala said the investment came from local companies Kampot Logistics and Port, and the construction was undertaken by China’s Shanghai Construction Group and China Road and Bridge Corporation.
“This multi-purpose port will become a new international gateway to facilitate Cambodia’s trade with other countries and will greatly contribute to our economic growth,” he noted.
including free economic zones
The port will span a total area of 600 hectares and, with a depth of 15 meters, will be able to accommodate vessels of 100,000 tons. It will include a container terminal, a special economic zone, a free trade zone, a logistics hub, an oil refinery, various logistics facilities and warehouses, and a tourist boat terminal.
Construction will be carried out in phases over 15 years, Cambodian Transport Minister Sun Chanthol said, noting that the first phase from 2022 to 2025 is expected to cost $200 million. He did not elaborate on whether Chinese project partners contributed to the investment or if they provided loans for port construction.
Up to 10,000 new jobs
The port will be able to handle 300,000 20-foot equivalent container units by 2025 and 600,000 by 2030, Chanthol said, adding that the port will create about 10,000 direct and indirect jobs while it operates.
According to the transport minister, it will be the third largest port in the country after Sihanoukville Autonomous Port and Phnom Penh Autonomous Port.
