SSEZ gears up for sustainable infra expansion
SSEZ gears up for sustainable infra expansion
The Sihanoukville Special Economy Zone (SSEZ), a flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project in Cambodia, continues to expand its development footprint with a focus on infrastructure, sustainability, and comprehensive investor support, according to Gu Xia, Investment Director of the SSEZ.
As Cambodia positions itself as a regional hub for industry and logistics by 2030, the SSEZ continues to play a key role in driving that vision forward. With ongoing development in its second and third phases, the zone remains a vital platform for cross-border investment and sustainable growth in the Kingdom.
Speaking during an interview on Friday, Gu highlighted the zone’s master layout, which spans a total of 1,113 hectares. Of this, approximately 600 hectares have already been developed as the core industrial zone, while 100 hectares in the southern section have been designated as a living and sporting area to support the zone’s growing workforce.
“We have already completed 600 hectares of the industrial zone,” Gu said. “Now we’re beginning to attract more commercial investment projects, especially in the southern area.”
Established in 2008, the SSEZ is situated about 12 km from the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, and currently has 202 enterprises. It accounts for about 70 percent of all factories in the province and generates over 32,000 jobs.
The zone is being developed in phases with a strong emphasis on sustainable development and inclusive cooperation. Gu said that the SSEZ follows a philosophy of “win-win cooperation,” engaging eight key stakeholders—environment, community, shareholders, staff, clients, suppliers, partners, and government—throughout its development process.
“That’s the core of our development,” she said. “We want to take full social responsibility and make this a project that benefits everyone involved.”
From challenging terrain marked by mountainous and uneven land, the SSEZ has evolved over the past 16 years into a fully connected industrial park. Gu described the “six connections” that have been established, including roads, electricity, water supply, telecommunications, land levelling, and greenery.
“So we have all the conditions to meet their demands, to help them start their business as soon as possible,” she noted.
The SSEZ is also equipped with essential infrastructure, including a national-level substation, a water treatment plant, a sewage treatment facility, and a solar power plant. These utilities are designed not only to meet the diverse energy and environmental needs of the zone’s enterprises but also to promote sustainable industrial development.
“We have a solar power plant to try to meet the demand. If some companies need large quantities of electricity or require steam, we can solve this problem. We can meet their demand,” Gu said.
“The sewage treatment plant is part of our effort to protect the environment. So that’s also a core mission during our development and construction. The sewage treatment plant and the solar power plant are both in phase one.”
In addition to industrial infrastructure, the zone is also enhancing service facilities to support businesses and workers. A comprehensive services building, known as the “neighbourhood centre,” houses a one-stop government administrative office on the ground floor and logistics service providers on the second floor.
Addressing a joint media interview with People’s Daily and Cambodian journalists on Friday, Liu Lianchi, Deputy Managing Director of the SSEZ, emphasised that the zone symbolises the strong friendship between Cambodia and China in Preah Sihanouk province.
- 08:03 08/04/2025
