PHNOM PENH: The Royal Government is updating its technology, policies and infrastructure to keep up with modern times. This morning, Prime Minister Hun Manet officially inaugurated the imposing new Ministry of Interior building, which will headquarter the National Police Force in addition to ten other departments including internal audits, immigration and the legislative council.

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 over $60 million to build. The building is a significant milestone for Cambodia’s infrastructure development and contributes to the government’s efforts to modernize its administrative services and update its image.

The classical Khmer style building is a towering nine stories high with a tiled roof and references to Angkor Wat’s Kampoul Pram Temple. The building looms over Norodom Boulevard and spans widely across 153m by 83m, withparking available for over 300 cars. It is being celebrated as a new modern workplace for the Ministry of Interior, which the PM called the backbone of the Royal Government.

The Ministry of Interior is tasked with maintaining security and public order and administering to provincial administrations. It oversees the National Police Force and is currently led by Minister Sar Sokha, son of former Minister of Interior Sar Kheng, who held on to the position for 31 years. At today’s ceremony Sar Sokha thanked his father and former Prime Minister Hun Sen for making the new building a reality.