AKP Phnom Penh, November 28, 2025 --

Preah Sihanouk Provincial Governor H.E. Mang Sineth held high-level working talks on Thursday afternoon with H.E. Park Il, Ambassador in Charge of Special Mission of the Republic of Korea (RoK) to Cambodia, focusing on boosting bilateral cooperation in investment, logistics, and deepening people-to-people ties.

The meeting highlighted Preah Sihanouk’s status as Cambodia’s premier coastal growth engine and reinforced the strong 28-year diplomatic relationship between the two nations.

Governor Mang Sineth welcomed the South Korean delegation, emphasising Preah Sihanouk's strategic importance in Cambodia’s southwest. He provided an overview of the province, which recorded 5.4 percent economic growth in 2024 and boasts a per capita income of approximately US$4,256.

He noted the province's natural assets, including 32 islands and a 175-kilometre coastline, which underpin its development across industry, commerce, agriculture, and tourism. 

The Governor reiterated the Royal Government’s designation of Preah Sihanouk as a model multi-purpose Special Economic Zone, calling it a “rising star of the southwest.”

A key component of the discussion was the coastal province’s robust transport infrastructure. 

H.E. Mang Sineth outlined the comprehensive network spanning waterways, roads, rail, and air. He detailed the ongoing three-phase expansion of the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (2024-2030), which aims for a depth of 17.5 metres to accommodate vessels up to 160,000 tonnes. This port development is complemented by major road links, including the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, National Roads No. 3 and No. 4, and an operational railway and airport.

Ambassador Park Il praised the province’s long-term vision, commending the phased port development and infrastructure upgrades that are accelerating Preah Sihanouk’s rapid growth.

Ambassador Park acknowledged Preah Sihanouk's role as a major hub for industry, trade, and tourism. To facilitate mutual learning in logistics, he proposed exploring a sister-city relationship with Ulsan, a significant transport and logistics centre in the Republic of Korea. 

Preah Sihanouk already maintains sister-city partnerships with South Korea’s Changwon, Guri (both 2017), and Bonghwa (2009).

The Ambassador also underscored the positive trajectory of Cambodia-Korea relations and pledged Seoul’s commitment to promoting Preah Sihanouk’s tourism and investment potential to South Korean citizens and businesses. He specifically requested continued support and facilitation for the growing South Korean community residing and working in the province.

In response, the Preah Sihanouk provincial administration welcomed the proposals and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all South Korean residents and entrepreneurs. The Governor noted that despite past reputational challenges related to online gaming, the province continues to attract increasing numbers of foreign tourists and investors.

He concluded by expressing gratitude for the opportunities provided to Cambodian workers and students in South Korea, voicing confidence that bilateral ties and provincial cooperation are set to deepen in the coming years.

By K. Rithy Reak