The government has established a working group which is tasked with generating increased investment into Preah Sihanouk province.

Development in the province has been sluggish, with more than one thousand buildings unfinished since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

Preah Sihanouk province has long been touted as a potential logistics hub, thanks to the excellent deep water Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, and other transport infrastructure links.

The working group has 30 members from different ministries and state institutions, and is chaired by Hean Sahip, secretary of state at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. 

The group will lead and implement the government’s “special programme to boost investment in Preah Sihanouk province in 2024”. 

The special programme is due to be announced by Prime Minister Hun Manet today. 

The working group will act as a One Window Service Office, and provide all relevant services to investors. It will also have to power to approve some investment projects, as well as providing hospitality to potential investors. 

It will provide detailed evaluations of the implementation of the special programme to the government every three months.

Preah Sihanouk province experienced rapid development before the pandemic, mostly through Chinese investment. Many building projects were stalled at the onset of the pandemic, and have yet to restart.

Local authorities said there are around 1,150 unfinished buildings in the province. Work has resumed on around 100 of them.