CDC Leads Inspection of $20M Dry Port Project in Prey Veng

PREY VENG, Cambodia (Nov.21, 2025) — Cambodia’s growing network of special economic zones (SEZs) took center stage on Thursday as officials inspected a proposed $20 million dry port project in Krabao commune, Kamchay Mear district.

The visit, led by Chea Vuthy, secretary-general of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), underscored how new logistics infrastructure could extend SEZ benefits into Prey Veng province, a region long seen as a gateway for cross-border trade with Vietnam.

The project by S.S.R Co., Ltd. would be the first dry port in the area, covering more than 10 hectares and featuring office and commercial buildings, cargo transfer stations, container yards, and warehouses. Officials said the development would strengthen Cambodia’s SEZ system by easing transport flows, reducing costs for manufacturers, and creating jobs for local residents.

Cambodia counts 67 SEZs nationwide, hosting industries from electronics and automotive parts to textiles and food processing. Together, they have become central to the country’s export diversification strategy. The Royal Group Phnom Penh SEZ alone exported $1.5 billion worth of goods in the first nine months of 2025, with shipments bound for the United States, Thailand, and other key markets.

For Prey Veng, the inspection signaled more than just a new investment. By linking the province’s border gate at Mon Chay to Cambodia’s SEZ network, the dry port project is expected to transform the area into a logistics hub, attract new investors, and provide employment opportunities. Vuthy said CDC is prepared to work closely with provincial authorities to promote the region’s potential to both domestic and international investors.

The inspection reflects Cambodia’s broader strategy to expand SEZ-linked infrastructure beyond Phnom Penh, ensuring that provinces like Prey Veng share in the benefits of industrial growth and regional trade integration.

Representatives from the ministries of Public Works and Transport, Environment, Planning, Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, as well as the General Department of Customs and Excise and Prey Veng provincial authorities joined the mission. Vuthy also visited the Mon Chay border gate to review infrastructure progress and reaffirm CDC’s readiness to coordinate with provincial authorities in promoting the region’s investment potential to domestic and international investors.

The Royal Group Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone (PPSEZ) reported exports of $1.5 billion from January to September 2025, with expectations to surpass $2 billion by year-end despite global trade uncertainties. Key export destinations included the United States, one of the largest markets for PPSEZ tenants, and Thailand, which received $145 million in shipments, accounting for nearly 10 percent of total exports. PPSEZ hosts major international manufacturers, particularly in electronics and automotive components, and has maintained uninterrupted operations despite geopolitical challenges.

The inspection of the Prey Veng dry port project highlights Cambodia’s broader strategy to strengthen logistics, expand cross-border trade capacity with Vietnam, and create jobs that boost regional development in provinces beyond Phnom Penh. Together, the expansion of SEZs and supporting infrastructure projects like dry ports reinforce Cambodia’s ambition to position itself as a competitive hub for manufacturing and trade in Southeast Asia.