KANDAL, Cambodia, Aug 5 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodia, today began to build the 1.7-billion-U.S. dollar Funan Techo Canal, connecting the Mekong River’s Preak Takeo tributary in southern Kandal province, to the sea in the south-western Kep province.
Addressing more than 10,000 people at the groundbreaking ceremony for the canal, Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Manet, said, the 180-km waterway will be a catalyst for economic growth and trade development, when it is completed in 2028.
“The Funan Techo Canal will link the capital, Phnom Penh, to the deep-water port in Preah Sihanouk province, facilitating the country’s trade exchange with the world,” he said.
“It will help enhance Cambodia’s economic autonomy through strengthening national independence and ownership in transporting cargoes by waterway,” he added.
Hun Manet said, the project will help attract investments in industries, agriculture, logistics and real estate, among others, to areas on both sides of the canal.
Deputy Prime Minister, Sun Chanthol, also first-vice president of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, said, the canal project will start from the Mekong River’s Preak Takeo tributary in Kandal province, running through Takeo and Kampot provinces, before reaching the coast in Kep province.
He said, the two-lane waterway will be 100 metres wide and 5.4 metres deep, capable of accommodating cargo vessels of up to 3,000 deadweight tonnes.
Chanthol said, the construction will take four years to complete, in 2028, and a total population of 1.6 million living on both sides of this waterway will benefit from it.
“The canal will provide tremendous benefits to Cambodian society and economy, as it will reduce shipping costs, delivery time and distance,” he said.
Chanthol assured that, the canal will not have any adverse environmental impacts; instead, it will help maintain a stable environment, ecology and natural habitat for biodiversity.– NNN-AKP
