AKP Phnom Penh, January 07, 2026 -- 

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Cambodia Office convened a meeting on Jan. 6 to discuss preparations for a master plan development project aimed at transforming the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS) into a regional port and logistics hub.

H.E. Mrs. Koy Sodany, Permanent Secretary of State at the MPWT, attended the first meeting, which was held in a hybrid format with a Japanese technical consulting firm and a JICA team led by Ms. Miura Yoshiko, Senior Representative of JICA’s Cambodia Office. The meeting was also attended by representatives from the MPWT, the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, the Embassy of Japan in Cambodia, and relevant technical officials.

The meeting aimed to introduce the composition of the joint project working group between the Cambodian and Japanese sides, present the expert team from the Japanese technical consulting firm, and outline the work plan for the detailed study on implementing the master plan to develop Sihanoukville Port into a regional port and logistics centre.

H.E. Mrs. Koy Sodany thanked the meeting participants and the Japanese side for presenting the project work plan and for their continued cooperation and constructive input. She underscored the importance of ensuring that the study is clear, comprehensive, and technically sound so that it delivers effective and practical outcomes in line with the project’s objectives.

According to the plan, the expert team from the Japanese technical consulting firm will begin its mission in Cambodia in the second week of January.

The first meeting of the Joint Coordinating Committee for the master plan development project is expected to be held in the near future under the chairmanship of H.E. Peng Ponea, Minister of Public Works and Transport.

Cambodia currently has two major ports—the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port and the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port—which play vital roles in handling the country’s import and export cargo.

At present, the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port is implementing a New Container Terminal Development Project valued at approximately US$203 million. According to the port’s latest report, the first phase of the expansion had reached 50 percent completion as of October 2025 and is scheduled for full completion by 2027. The new terminal is expected to significantly increase the port’s capacity, enable it to accommodate larger container vessels, and reduce shipping costs for Cambodian trade by minimising the need for transshipment.

By Chea Vannak