Preah Sihanouk provincial authorities on Monday absorbed two communes from Prey Nub district – home to the Sihanouk International Airport and a big special economic zone (SEZ) – and some land in Stoeng Hav district’s O’tres commune to become part of Sihanoukville.

Norng Dinara, head of communications at Preah Sihanouk Provincial Hall, said on Tuesday the move will help to better serve the thousands of workers at the airport and SEZ, and improve control of the province’s water supply.

Bet Trang and Ream communes, formerly located in Prey Nub district, and Traeng Thom and Traeng Toch villages, once located in Steong Hav district’s O’tres commune, all north of Sihanoukville, are now under Sihanoukville’s administration.

Thousands of workers are employed by the SEZ, which houses 113 factories in Bet Trang, and the airport in Ream, but their nearest district hall was several kilometres away, making it difficult to access public services. Security of locals and tourists was another issue as the district police are located far from the airport, according to Dinara.

The move had two aims, “to assist the people to better avail themselves of public services, and to guarantee the safety and security of nationals and international tourists and investors,” he said.