Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen signed a sub-decree to upgrade the Preah Sihanouk province (“Sihanoukville”) to a multi-purpose special economic zone (SEZ) on 9 June. This decision aims to increase its economic potential to investors. 

The sub-decree identifies the mechanism to implement the transformation, according to Mr. Kheang Phearum, spokesman for the Sihanoukville provincial administration. Upgrading Preah Sihanouk would require collaboration among different ministries for the formulation of land use and management policies. Technical and financial cooperation with national and international development partners would also be needed. 

Mr. Sinn Chanthy, president of Cambodia Logistics Association, noted in the Phnom Penh Post report that the Government’s clear policy on the status upgrade would help accelerate development in all areas. 

The Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, Cambodia's deep sea port, is located in Preah Sihanouk. It is also set to undergo expansion beginning 2022. The Port will construct a new container port measuring 350 meters and undertake dredging of the sea to a depth of 14.5m. Completion is expected by the end of 2024. 

Sihanoukville lies along the intercorridor link of the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC). This link connects the three SEC subcorridors—the Central, Northern, and Southern subcorridors—with the East-West Economic Corridor. The SEC is a vital passageway linking Cambodia with six provinces in Thailand including Bangkok, four regions in Viet Nam including Ho Chi Minh City, and six provinces in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. It also reaches Dawei in Myanmar. ADB's GMS SEC Towns Development Project supports the enhancement of competitiveness of towns along the SEC.