The Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS) has launched a project to enhance the capacity of the port towards increasing container throughput.
Named the ‘Project for Capacity Development on Container Terminal Management and Operation Phase 3’, the project receives assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The Record of Discussion to officially launch the four-year project was signed on Monday by Lou Kim Chhun, chairman and CEO of PAS, and Kamei Haruko, Chief Representative of JICA Cambodia Office.
The commencement of the project is expected to be in early May, according to a joint press release by PAS and JICA.
The Phase 3 project is implemented in line with progress of the ongoing Japanese ODA loan project on Sihanoukville Port New Container Terminal Development Project-Phase 1, whose construction is scheduled to be complete and put into operation in 2025.
“We strongly hope that effective capacity development on container terminal management and operation through this project together with the construction of a new container terminal will contribute to further port development and strengthen the competitiveness of Sihanoukville port,” read the press release.
Sin Chanthy, president of the Cambodia Logistics Association, said on Tuesday that the development of the port is to reply to the growth of container throughput, particularly once the Covid-19 pandemic eased.
“The port development and upgrade capacity are in line with the needs that the private sector wants to see because the number of container throughput in the port has increased year to year,” Chanthy said.
The CLA has asked and raised concerns of logistics, transport, loading procedures, and document clearance to the port recently, he said.
“We talked and discussed how to enhance the service to serve people and the private sector. We urged the port to provide cool warehouse facilities for serving agricultural product exports and the loading activities at the port better,” he said.
From this year, PAS will roll out the expansion of the seaport to reduce sea transport costs and attract more foreign direct investment.
JICA has supported PAS on capacity development on the port operation and management since 2013.
The first-phase expansion of the $200 million-terminal port to 350 metres long and 14.5 metres deep that will begin this year and complete in 2025 can allow around 93 percent of all cargo ship types in the region to dock off.
The PAS also announced the second and third phase of terminal development till 2030 which is aimed to allow the dock off of ships from the United States and Europe.
PAS earned income from service $63.5 million as of September last year, a year-on-year increase of 11 percent.
This article was first published in Khmer Times. All contents and images are copyright to their respective owners and sources.
