(Sihanoukville, May 1) – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet affirmed the Royal Government’s commitment to streamlining procedures at the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port to attract more shipping activity and increase national revenue.
Speaking during his meeting with civil servants, staff, and workers of the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, the Prime Minister emphasised the importance of reducing bureaucratic complexity, in line with international practices aimed at improving cargo clearance and inspection efficiency.
“We must continue striving. Streamlining procedures does not mean cutting revenue. If there are too many procedures, fees may be collected at each step, but fewer goods will enter. However, if we cut some procedures, more goods will come in. That means we take a smaller profit per unit but earn more overall,” said Samdech Thipadei.
He added that the government and relevant ministries will work together to reform port operations, including the adoption of technologies for pre-arrival checks and faster container inspections.
Hun Manet also noted that the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port has long attracted foreign investment proposals since the time of former Prime Minister Hun Sen. However, the Royal Government has consistently rejected these, maintaining the port under state management.
The Prime Minister praised the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the port’s leadership, civil servants, and workers for their performance and cooperation, which have ensured compliance with labour standards and contributed to year-on-year revenue growth.
Investing in Modernisation and National Competitiveness
Prime Minister Hun Manet reiterated that Cambodia is continuously modernising the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port in response to growing trade activity. He described investing in the port as a strategic approach of “using money to make money.”
He stressed the importance of reviewing and updating incentive policies, in line with global standards, to maintain Cambodia’s competitiveness.
“If we remain stagnant, we will fall behind, as others continue to progress rapidly. Therefore, we must be committed to ongoing innovation and modernisation — of our infrastructure, operational systems, and most importantly, the development of human capital — to ensure that Cambodia remains competitive and maintains its rightful place in the global economy and regional integration,” he said.
The Sihanoukville Autonomous Port is Cambodia’s only deep-sea port, capable of accommodating international vessels for both regional and global trade. This allows direct exports without relying on transshipment via costlier ports such as Singapore.
Located in Kampong Som Bay, the port covers approximately 125 hectares and benefits from natural protection by surrounding islands. It requires minimal dredging and currently operates eight berths with modern cargo-handling facilities. Cargo volumes at the port have steadily increased over the past five years.
Addressing External Trade Pressures
Hun Manet also expressed frustration with opposition groups lobbying the European Union to impose trade sanctions on Cambodia while the country is engaged in complex tariff negotiations with the United States.
“I saw that some people yesterday were bragging about asking the EU to impose sanctions on the Cambodian government. At a time when we are facing trade and tariff challenges from the US, which are already affecting our people’s livelihoods, they still proudly boast about urging the EU to impose sanctions on Cambodia, just like the previous EBA withdrawal. Does that benefit our workers? No,” he said.
He stressed that such actions harm Cambodian citizens and workers, regardless of political affiliation.
The Prime Minister confirmed that Cambodia’s working group will continue discussions with Jamieson Greer, Chief Trade Representative of the US, and is prepared to fly to the US if necessary.
In 2024, the US had a trade deficit with over 100 countries, while China maintained a trade surplus with over 150. Following this, on April 3, 2025, former President Donald Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs of approximately 49% on Cambodian imports due to a 97% trade imbalance — Cambodia exported over USD 9 billion of USD 10.5 billion in bilateral trade. The US also increased tariffs on Cambodian solar panel products to 3,521%. Similar tariffs were applied to Laos (48%) and Viet Nam (46%).
Celebrating Land Registration Success in Preah Sihanouk
Prime Minister Hun Manet congratulated Preah Sihanouk province on becoming the fifth province in Cambodia to complete systematic land measurement and registration.
“I sincerely thank and congratulate Preah Sihanouk, which has become the fifth province to complete land measurement and registration, thereby resolving this issue,” he said, also thanking Say Sam Al, Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, and Mao Sinet for their efforts.
The government will continue land measurement efforts using legal procedures, modern technology, and transparent systems to minimise disputes. In the past, disputes were limited when land values were low, but increased alongside property prices. Today, these have largely subsided thanks to comprehensive land registration and GPS-based systems.
Previously completed provinces include Kampong Cham, Svay Rieng, Siem Reap, and Kampong Speu.
Key Benefits of Land Registration:
- Improved management of public and private land, reducing disputes and improving land planning and investment potential.
- Legal ownership for citizens, protected by law.
- Usable land titles for business, investment, or other professional purposes.
To execute this initiative, over 5,000 personnel, including ministry officials and youth volunteers, were deployed. On average, 12,000 to 15,000 land plots were measured per day. The full rollout is expected by 2025, with title distribution to be completed by 2028, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the 1989 land ownership reform.
Extending Electricity Access to Island Communities
The Prime Minister also announced the successful expansion of the national electricity grid to several islands via undersea transmission lines. These islands include:
- Koh Rong
- Koh Sramoch
- Koh Thmei
- Koh Totung
- Koh Ampil Toch
- Koh Ampil Thum
- Koh Samit
- Pineapple Island
- Koh Smach
- Koh Sdach
A separate connection to Koh Pos is being routed beneath the bridge. These islands are located in Preah Sihanouk and Koh Kong provinces.
“Undersea electricity networks have already been built to reach many islands […] and Electricité du Cambodge is currently constructing a medium-voltage undersea transmission line from Koh Rong to Koh Rong Sanloem. This project, with a budget of USD 3 million, is expected to be completed by the end of 2025,” said the Prime Minister.
As of 2024, Cambodia has:
- 5,044 megawatts of developed electricity generation capacity
- 3,890 kilometres of transmission lines
- 70 substations in operation
- Electricity access in 99.15% of villages and 95.24% of households
Reaffirming Global Trade Interdependence
Prime Minister Hun Manet concluded by emphasising the necessity of trade and economic interdependence in today’s global economy.
“The global economy cannot be completely cut off or closed to trade. For thousands of years, people have traded, and for thousands more, trade will continue. No country can survive or thrive entirely on its own. We must rely on one another.”
He highlighted that 80% of global goods are transported by sea, making maritime transport the most cost-effective and critical method. In this context, continued investment in port infrastructure is not only important but essential for national development.
