SIHANOUKVILLE: The Deputy Governor of Preah Sihanouk Province, Hiek Himuli, participated in a consultation meeting on the preparation of a digital framework for the public administration of Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration at the Independent Hotel in Sihanoukville, on Tuesday (29 March 2022). Participating in the consultation meeting were the Deputy Governor, project advisors, smart city experts, department heads and related units through an online system.

Deputy Governor, Hiek Himuli, said that the Australian Embassy in Cambodia's 3i Program Meeting now supported the provincial administration in initiating a smart city strategy for Sihanoukville, within the framework of the digital system, to facilitate the provision of public administration services, and the study of the Sihanoukville Smart Parking Test Pilot Project.

She further stated that Sihanoukville is a province with the potential to develop the national economy, including in the sectors of industry, trade, tourism and agriculture, since it has the deepest seaport in Cambodia. Preah Sihanouk Province is considered by the Royal Government as a multi-purpose model special economic zone (SEZ), in accordance with the Cambodian Industrial Development Policy 2015-2025, under the coordination of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the relevant Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee. The team is currently studying, collecting data, setting goals and action plans for the master planning.

Sihanoukville is an important national development pole in the coastal area as defined by the Royal Government in the Sihanoukville Provincial Land Management Plan. The vision for 2030 includes the mission to continue developing Sihanoukville as a sustainable national development pole in the coastal region of Cambodia through the development of the city, coastal resorts, the implementation of a multi-purpose model special economic zone, an international gateway, a national growth center, a national logistics center with links to ASEAN and global markets, and a high-tech manufacturing industry hub.

The Deputy Governor stressed that the tasks ahead to develop Sihanoukville as a smart, sustainable and environmentally friendly city in line with the Cambodian Digital Economic and Social Policy Framework 2021-2031, must be jointly implemented and organized in accordance with the principles of the Royal Government and the vision of the Sihanoukville 2030.

She continued that this meeting was very important for the gathering of input and relevant information to establish a smart city technical institution as a digital framework for the provision of public administration services by the provincial administration. She urged all in attendance to pay close attention to the presentations of smart city experts providing opinions, information and recommendations to contribute to the preparation of a comprehensive framework document. She stressed that collecting input requires the participation of all stakeholders, including the government, private sector, business and people in Sihanoukville.