Kampot (FN), Apr. 3 – Ministry of Economy and Finance organized the 7th Inter-ministerial Technical Working Group meeting on 1 April 2024 at Kampot province, chaired by Phan Phalla, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and Chairman of the “Inter-ministerial Technical Working Group Coordinating the Development and Implementation of the Master Plan to Develop Preah Sihanouk Province into a Model Multi-purpose SEZs” (TWG) with the participation of the Urban Planning and Design Institute of Shenzhen (UPDIS), and representatives from 27 related Line Ministries and provincial deputy governors from the four coastal provinces to review and provide macro-level technical comments on the draft report of the “Master Plan to develop Preah Sihanouk Province into a Model Multi-Purpose SEZ and Develop Cambodia’s Coastal Provinces into a Multi-purpose and Comprehensive Economic Corridor”.

It should also be reminded that the Master Plan to Develop Preah Sihanouk Province into a Model Multi-Purpose SEZ has received the highest guidance from Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet to expand the scope of this Master Plan to incorporate three more coastal provinces including Koh Kong, Kampot and Kep and change the official name to the “Master Plan to develop Preah Sihanouk Province into a Model Multi-Purpose SEZ and Develop Cambodia Coastal Provinces into a Multi-purpose and Comprehensive Economic Corridor”. The goal is to guide the development of the four coastal provinces in Cambodia to be more interconnected and inclusive.

Phan Phalla, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, stated that the main purpose of the 7th Inter-Ministerial TWG meeting was to gather inputs and additional comments from relevant ministries and institutions on the draft report of the Master Plan to Develop Preah Sihanouk Province into a Model Multi-Purpose SEZs and to Develop Cambodia Coastal Provinces into a Multi-purpose and Comprehensive Economic Corridor, and especially focusing on macro-level aspects such as vision, direction, function and priority sectors of each province, which requires inputs from relevant line ministries. Phan Phalla added that this Master plan is a national strategy to promote economic and social development through six development pillars such as industry, human resources and technology, transportation, infrastructure, ecology, and public services. Overall, the draft report of the “Master Plan to develop Preah Sihanouk Province into a Model Multi-Purpose SEZ and Develop Cambodia Coastal Provinces into a Multi-purpose and Comprehensive Economic Corridor” focuses on national development and strategic plans, which intertwines with the development plan for each sectors by taking into account macroeconomic status, global trends, industrial development, labor markets, special economic zone development models, public service systems, public transportation and infrastructure, tourism and biodiversity, livelihoods and well-being, urban design, land use management, green belt management, and institutional frameworks. These development plants will be a strong catalyst to boost Cambodia’s economy in the future, aligning with Cambodia’s goal to become a middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income nation by 2050.

As a result, the meeting discussed and provided comments on key issues including to fulfill relevant data and development directions. Moreover, there was a focus on fostering collaboration among the four coastal provinces in alignment with national policies and the sub-national development plan of each province. Afterward, the Secretariat team will consolidate the comments and update the report accordingly.

Chanmolika, [04/03/2024 05:52 AM]
Subsequently, the revised report will be presented to the Inter-ministerial committee for review prior to seeking final approval from the Royal Government of Cambodia.

Finally, the meeting expressed its appreciation to the inter-ministerial TWG and UPDIS team for their dedicated efforts in drafting the Master Plan Report. In addition, the meeting also hoped that this master plan will help develop the four coastal provinces, as well as develop Cambodia as a whole.
=FRESH NEWS