The Belt and Road Initiative and Its Implications for Cambodia

The Belt and Road Initiative and Its Implications for Cambodia

By: Mr. Travis Mitchell, Director of CRC

On 7 March 2016, Mr. Travis Mitchell, Director of the Council for Research and Creativity, attended a workshop at Hotel Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra entitled, “Getting Things Moving – Regional & National Infrastructure & Logistics for Connectivity, Growth, and Development,” which was jointly organized by the Cambodia Development Research Institute and ANZ Royal, and presided over by Samdech Techo Hun Sen,Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The Prime Minister opened up the conference with a speech lauding Cambodia’s accomplishments, discussing its impressive economic growth, favorable policies, its dramatic rise in the World Bank rankings for infrastructure, and its focus on logistics. The government is increasing investment through public-private partnerships by expanding highways that link urban and rural areas; enhancing waterways for transporting goods and people; increasing rail systems; developing seaports to lower logistics costs; decreasing electricity costs; and lowering logistics and cross-border costs to enhance competitiveness.

Several other prominent speakers held panel discussions, including H.E. Sok Chenda, Minister at-tached to the Prime Minister, H.E. Dr. Sok Siphana, Chairman of the CDRI, Mr. Grant Knuckey, CEO of ANZ Royal, Mr. Wang Yanzhi, President of the Silk Road Fund, H.E. Keo Ratanak, Director General of Electricite du Cambodge, H.E. Neav Chanthana, Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia, Mrs. Hei Phanin, Head of Planning for the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port, and Oknha Keo Mom, President of the Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association, among others. Mr. Travis Mitchell met a few prominent members of the private business community in Phnom Penh and is hoping to find ways that UC and these companies can work together in the near future.

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