Sihanoukville (FN), Apr. 5 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet revealed that several islands previously granted to the private sector have been reclaimed due to a lack of development activity.

The premier spoke on Saturday (Apr. 5) at the inauguration of Ream naval base and Cambodia-China Joint Logistics and Training Centre in Sihanoukville.

Samdech Thipadei underscored, “Now is the time for the CDC to begin reassessing some islands that were licensed to the private sector but left undeveloped. In the past, when these islands were reclaimed, others would simply apply for them again. So now, let’s strategically assess which islands should be reserved for the navy to serve as long-term national defense bases.”

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet underlined that alongside reserving certain islands for defence purposes, the Royal Government must also consider allocating other areas for private sector investment and residential development, reflecting a balanced and long-term vision.

Samdech Thipadei added that this approach must be carefully balanced — we cannot focus solely on military needs without addressing the growing economic and residential needs of our people. Therefore, the designation of land use and strategic locations must be carefully planned in advance.

At the same time, Prime Minister Hun Manet instructed the CDC to collaborate with the Ministry of National Defence in identifying and designating areas specifically for defense purposes. These areas should be classified as public land under the defense sector and placed under strict management and protection.
=FRESH NEWS