PHNOM PENH: Anyone travelling down Norodom Boulevard near Bassac Lane has noticed a massive new building under construction for the last year and a half. According to Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior, Mao Chandara, the new Ministry of Interior building is complete and will be officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Hun Manet on November 6, 2023.

The lavish new office building was finished ahead of schedule, taking just a year and a half to complete and is estimated to have cost Cambodian taxpayers over $60 million. The building is expected to be a significant milestone for Cambodia’s infrastructure development and contribute to the government’s efforts to modernize its administrative services.

While the classical Khmer style building is a towering nine stories high, it spans widely across 153m by 83m and has parking available for over 300 cars.

The Ministry of Interior is tasked with maintaining security and public order and administering to provincial administrations. It oversees the National Police Force in addition to ten other departments including internal audits, immigration and the legislative council. It is currently led by Minister Sar Sokha, son of former Minister of Interior Sar Kheng, who held on to the position for 31 years.