Hun Manet: Investing in the port of Sihanoukville is a strategic decision to ‘make money with money.’

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has affirmed that Cambodia is continuing to modernise the autonomous port of Sihanoukville in order to meet the growth in commercial activity. He added that investment in the port represents a strategic approach of ‘using money to make money’.

The Prime Minister spoke on Thursday, 1 May 2025, during a meeting with civil servants, employees and workers at the autonomous port of Sihanoukville

‘When I travel abroad to meet with foreign investors, I see that other foreign leaders are doing the same thing: they are offering incentives. Therefore, whether in discussions with the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) or with private companies, we must continually assess which policies strengthen competitiveness and which have become obsolete or ineffective. It is essential that we protect our competitive advantage, even in the face of challenges,’ the Prime Minister emphasised.

Samdech Thipadei continued:

‘With regard to this port, if we stand still, we will fall behind, as others continue to progress rapidly. We must therefore commit to continuously innovating and modernising our infrastructure, our operational systems and, above all, to developing our human capital, in order to ensure that Cambodia remains competitive and retains its rightful place in the global economy and regional integration.’

On this occasion, Samdech Thipadei emphasised that the autonomous port of Sihanoukville remains Cambodia's only deep-water port, not only for the country but also for the entire region, capable of accommodating international vessels sailing in regional and global waters. This allows Cambodian goods to be exported directly, without having to rely on transhipment via neighbouring ports such as Singapore, where shipping costs are higher.

The autonomous port of Sihanoukville is Cambodia's main deep-water port, with an operational area of approximately 125 hectares. Located in Kampong Som Bay, it is naturally suited to maritime logistics thanks to its deep waters, the protection offered by the surrounding islands that act as barriers against wind and waves, and its geographical position, which eliminates the need for regular dredging to maintain navigability.

Established in early 1956, the port has undergone several expansions. It currently operates eight berths equipped with modern cargo handling facilities. Over the past five years, the volume of cargo passing through the port has steadily increased.