The Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway, broken ground this morning, will help promote trade and investment in the area of Lvea Em district, Kandal province, and transport and tourism between Cambodia and Vietnam, said H.E. Sun Chanthol, Senior Minister, Minister of Public Works and Transport.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of US$1.35 billion-worth Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway held in Kean Svay district, Kandal province, H.E. Sun Chanthol said that this second expressway is Cambodia’s potential economic line connecting Phnom Penh to Bavet city of Svay Rieng province, at the border with Vietnam.
“This expressway will promote the growth of investment, trade and tourism in Phnom Penh, Arey Ksat new city of Kandal province, Prey Veng and Svay Rieng provinces, especially the cross-border trade and tourism activities between Cambodia and Vietnam,” he said.
Additionally, the expressway will share an important part of ASEAN Highway No. 1, which will further facilitate the connectivity of the country’s internal network and connect Cambodia to the ASEAN and the Greater Mekong Subregion to strengthen market potential, competitiveness and socio-economy, he added.
The infrastructure connection is considered as an engine to promote national economic growth and reduce poverty of the people quickly, the minister said.
According to Mr. Lim Heng, Vice President of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, the expressway will inject a new impetus into the country’s economic development as it links Phnom Penh capital and the ports.
“The expressway will provide great benefit to Cambodia economic development as it will facilitate goods transport inside the country and connect with neighbouring countries,” he said.
Invested by the China Road and Bridge Corporation, the 135.10-kilometre-long expressway project will be developed in the form of BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) with an operational period of 50 years.
The four-lane freeway project is expected to be completed in four years.
Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse