Road and Electricity Infrastructure Work Stimulates Cambodia's Economic Growth

VO:  Heng Pich Chhay  is one of Cambodia’s entrepreneurial success stories. He owns a fertilizer business and his grown the family firm into a nationwide distributorship. But it wasn’t always easy.

SOT: Heng Pich Chhay
Managing Director, Heng Pich Chhay Import and Export
Cambodia
In the past and particularly prior to 2007, I faced a lot of difficulties in developing my business. The road conditions around here were so bad. And electricity, it just wasn’t sufficient. So, it was very hard to expand our business.

VO: The Asian Development Bank supported the repair and maintenance of National Highway 2 and other key roads in Cambodia that helps businessmen like Mr. Chhay to import goods more easily from neighboring Viet Nam and quickly distribute his products nationwide.
Over the past 10 years, ADB has built or rehabilitated more than 4,000 kilometers of roads across Cambodia that’s helping to facilitate commerce and stimulate job growth. Physical infrastructure is the backbone of Cambodia’s economic progress and it must be built to last.

SOT: Eric Sidgwick
Country Director, Cambodia
Asian Development Bank
It’s very important to contruct roads and infrastructure to the highest standards, that’s critical. But also related to that it’s very important that operations and maintenance on the roads also be done that the infrastructure is sustained over a longer period of time.

VO: Overseas investors say that they need more than just good roads. Reliable electricity can make the difference between success or failure in the global economy.

ADB has been working to improve electricity access in Cambodia. It finance the construction of high voltage transmission lines from Viet Nam. The project is part of the Greater Mekong Subregion plan to connect the countries power sectors. In Cambodia, this cross-border electricity supply is powering provincial towns that’s helping to reduce both prices and unexpected power cuts. Two factors which are often sighted as major constraints to doing business.

SOT: Chin Pha
Chief of Production , EDC
Preah Sihanoukville, Cambodia
The reason why electricity is very important for this province is that, there’s an increasing number of factories coming here.

VO: Better roads and an improved electricity supply mean more job opportunities for local communities. Single mother, La Sopheap, can provide better care for her children now that she has steady work at a local garment factory.

SOT: La Sopheap
Hondou  Garment Factory
Preah Sihanoukville, Cambodia
I’m optimistic for the future and I think more jobs will come to this region.

VO: Cross-border transportation and electricity links are central pillars of both the Greater Mekong Subregion Program and ADB’s work to support Cambodia’s continued development.

SOT: Heng Pich Chhay
Managing Director, Heng Pich Chhay Import and Export
Cambodia
If there are more good roads to come and if the cost of electricity can come down a bit that will be great.