PHNOM PENH: The Minister of Economy and Finance, Deputy Prime Minister Aun Porn Moniroth, said that as Cambodia reopens the country, the government needs to focus on logistics and transportation to reduce the cost of selling products to international markets. He urged the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to address the challenges and accelerate some work in 2022, including asking the Ministry to focus on the quality of infrastructure.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the meeting to review the work of public works and transportation in 2021, and to set the direction of work in 2022, at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport on Friday afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister Aun Porn Moniroth instructed the Minister of Public Works and Transport to finalize the master plan on transportation, the means and logistics to facilitate cross-border transportation, the facilitation of trade and cross-border trade, and the improvement of infrastructure at international border crossings, as well as to build and improve some major national roads by accepting only those projects that fit the standards and are in accordance with the required technical specifications.

The Economy and Finance Minister also promoted the construction of sewerage infrastructure, the development of railways and waterways, and also promoted the training and development of human resources in the technical fields of public works and transportation, thus helping to improve the quality of service to the people.

The Minister of Public Works and Transport, Senior Minister Sun Chanthol, also spoke at the closing ceremony and said that in 2022, the Ministry has agreed to set a year for the improvement of transport infrastructure, climate change resilience, construction management and the quality maintenance of both roads and bridges, focusing on the use of modern technology. He pledged to make more efforts to implement the set direction of the work by ensuring that it will be conducted accurately, meticulously and with a high-quality standard to avoid repetitive work.

In 2021, Cambodia completed several infrastructure projects, such as the construction of the Cambodia-China Stung Trang-Kroch Chhmar Friendship Bridge, the project to improve the road network on National Road 2, National Road 3, National Road 5 and the National Road and seven bridge projects in Prey Veng province. Additionally, the construction of 38 road infrastructures in Siem Reap and Sihanoukville have so far reached 90 percent completion, and the Ministry is also conducting studies for more new projects in 2022.