Kampot deep seaport plans put China’s rising role in perspective

• Me Wathana
• 6 August 2018
• Construction Focus
• 5011 Views

Sihanoukville Autonomous Port

The construction of a new deepwater seaport in Kampot is currently undergoing a feasibility study, following the agreement signing ceremony between a Cambodian company and a Chinese firm in April this year.

The new deep water seaport is a cooperation between China’s Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group and the well-known Try Pheap Group from Cambodia. According to a company announcement, this new seaport will be able to accommodate large vessels of up to 30,000 tons.

Mr Zhou Xiao Xi, managing director of Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group said that objective of this new water seaport is to fulfill the demand for deepwater seaports in Cambodia. The project will help boost the kingdom’s economy by attracting more cargo ships as well as creating more jobs for the Cambodians. The project will help create 500 jobs at the initial stage and will add another 1,500 jobs to the market over the next three years.

The project has also received strong support from the government of Cambodia. Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Men Sam An, as well as many significant high-ranking government officials, joined the signing ceremony on 26 April.

According to a report by Nikkei Asian Review, this new deepwater seaport plan can be seen as part of China’s strategic plan to spread their business power and overtake Japan’s dominant role in Cambodia. Cambodia’s main seaport in Sihanoukville has been built and expanded with Japanese support.

The port’s strategic significance has also grown as China pursues its Belt and Road Initiative, with Beijing seeking to gain access to harbors in Eurasia, including Southeast Asia, reported Nikkei Asian Review.

According to the same report, China overtook Japan as the biggest donor to Cambodia in 2010, and Chinese aid is now three times that of Japan.