Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol said officials are continuing to expand and enhance the quality of transport infrastructure, including roads, railways, waterways and ports throughout the country.

The ministry has plans to build more bridges, while also developing a national logistics master plan.

In a December 1 social media post, the ministry said that beside the soon-to-be-constructed Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway, it is also planning to build railway lines connecting Phnom Penh to Siem Reap province and to Poipet on the Thai border. The new rail network would allow the Kingdom to better connect to neighbouring countries.

Chanthol spoke while co-chairing a technical team meeting of the Infrastructure and Regional Integration Technical Working Group (IRITWG) with Kamei Haruko, Cambodia office chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Also in attendance were senior leaders from relevant ministries and institutions, development partners and specialist officials.

The minister also highlighted the use of IT mechanisms such as road transport automation and the Japan-financed Port Electronic Data Interchange (Port EDI) system, and encouraged the use of electric vehicles (EVs) to achieve the government’s long-term strategy for carbon neutrality by 2050.

The meeting was held for the representatives of relevant ministries and institutions to present updates and progress of their work. They briefed attendees on the current state of implementation, and any challenges they were facing. The projects are being implemented thanks to financial assistance from development partners including JICA, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the French Development Agency (FDA) and the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).

Their discussion, input and exchange of ideas would help to develop infrastructure and regional transport integration comprehensively, transparently, accountably and sustainably, which would boost the national economy, the ministry said.