TAKEO, Cambodia: Cambodia on Saturday (April 11) broke ground on Section II of the Funan Techo Integrated Water Resources Management project in a joint venture with China.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin presided over the ceremony, delivering speeches and pressing buttons to trigger heavy machinery as a symbol of the construction's start.
The whole project in the length of 172.6 km stretches from the Mekong River's Preak Takeo tributary in southern Kandal province to the sea in southwestern Kep province, traversing Takeo and Kampot provinces. The construction has been divided into two sections.
"This project will become a major strategic waterway connecting the capital Phnom Penh to the sea," Hun Manet said. "Its main goal is to boost the nation's economic growth, waterway transport, and logistics capacity."
He said the project would transform the areas along the canal into industrial, commercial, agro-industrial, logistics and special economic zones, as well as tourist attractions, bringing new strategic opportunities for socioeconomic growth in the long term.
"This historic project will provide enormous benefits to Cambodia, as it will reduce shipping costs, delivery time and distance," he said.
Ambassador Wang said that China supported enterprises from both sides strengthening cooperation based on feasibility and sustainability, and is willing to work with Cambodia to continuously enrich the "Diamond Hexagonal" cooperation framework, accelerate the building of an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era and better benefit the people of both countries.
Song Hailiang, chairman of China Communications Construction Group Co., Ltd. (CCCC), said in his address that based on high standards and professional requirements, CCCC will deeply participate in the construction of key projects, helping Cambodia achieve its development goals.
Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, said the canal will provide a consistent water supply for farmers in the southern provinces, allowing for multi-crop cycles and increasing rice and vegetable yields.
"The second phase of the canal construction is creating thousands of jobs for local workers and engineers," he said.
"The project is stimulating real estate development in previously 'sleepy' areas in those provinces, transforming them into potential residential and commercial clusters."
Matthews said this ambitious project would be a "game-changer" for Cambodia's economy and transport sector, as it will allow for direct shipments from the capital Phnom Penh to Cambodia's own coastal ports in Kampot, Kep and Preah Sihanouk provinces.
"By cutting out transit fees and simplifying the route, the canal is expected to significantly reduce domestic shipping costs," he added.
Thong Mengdavid, deputy director at the China-Asean Studies Centre of the Cambodia University of Technology and Science, said the project is expected to enhance Cambodia's economic sovereignty by lowering transport costs, upgrading logistical infrastructure, reducing dependence on foreign transit routes, and boosting regional connectivity.
"This will allow Cambodia to position itself for stronger trade competitiveness and long-term growth in the region," he added.
Im Sdoeung, a 36-year-old local resident in Takeo province, said she fully supported the project, believing that it would transform her tranquil area into a potential zone for trade, investment, and tourism.
"I believe that the project will help improve our economy and local people's livelihoods," she said. "Through this project, the waterway transport will be better developed." - Xinhua
