The government has announced dozens

of new names for administrative zones in the Kingdom as part of the

early stage of sweeping decentralisation reforms it says will enhance

decision-making and spending powers of local officials. During a

meeting of the National Committee 14 for Development through Democracy

at Sub-national Levels on Wednesday, Interior Minister Sar Kheng

announced that nearly a dozen districts, including Kratie and Prey

Veng, would be reclassified as cities. King Norodom Sihamoni last month

signed a royal decree that changes the municipalities of Kep,

Sihanoukville and Pailin into provinces and re-demarcates the

boundaries between the provinces of Battambang and Pursat, and

Sihanoukville and Koh Kong. The government has said the administrative

reshuffle will improve administrative efficiency and law and order by

localising governing powers.