Lou Kim Chhun, head of the listed deep-sea port operator Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS), said that in the five years from 2018 to 2022, the traffic of cargo through the port grew by an average of almost 15 per cent annually.
At a press conference organised by the Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ), he announced that the import and export of goods increased by 22 per cent in 2018 and by 22 per cent in 2019.
“The past few years have seen us maintain growth of more than 10 per cent. Unfortunately, the significant increase in the inflow and outflow of cargo has led to traffic congestion around the port. Due to this congestion, we have plans to expand the port terminal, but due to Covid-19 problem, the expansion was delayed,” he said.
“With the assistance of Japan and the state, we are currently constructing new infrastructure, including a deep-sea port and container terminal. These crucial improvements will render the transportation of goods through the port convenient and effective, and will support the continued development of the national economy,” he added.
He said 12 companies and between 16 and 18 ships regularly visit the port.
Cambodia Logistics Association (CLA) president Sin Chanthy said the port accounts for almost 70 per cent of the Kingdom’s transport tonnage, demonstrating its significant contribution to Cambodia’s import and export industries.
“The development of additional infrastructure at the autonomous port – the Kingdom’s sole deep sea port – is imperative for economic growth, so I am pleased to hear that the government is undertaking this work. I look forward to the continued development of the port infrastructure, which will be completed in the coming years, as it will increase Cambodia’s capacity for international trade,” he added.
