Kampot International Tourism Port Officially Launches Operations
The Kampot International Tourism Port, a public-private partnership investment project, was officially launched on April 21, 2025, by Prime Minister Hun Manet, following a three-month trial operation. The new port will connect tourists to major Cambodian islands, as well as Vietnam and Thailand.
The four-hectare port is located in Tuek Chou district, five kilometers from Kampot city, and was built with a USD 10 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as part of its Greater Mekong Subregion Tourism Infrastructure for Inclusive Growth Project, along with additional funding from the Cambodian government.
The Kampot International Tourism Port began construction in 2018 and was fully completed in June 2022. However, the start of operations was delayed due to difficulties in finding a private company to operate the port.
In 2024, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with AZ Builder, a company under the local conglomerate AZ Group, to operate the port. The MPWT stated at the time that at least USD 5-10 million was needed to start operations.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) has said the port will enhance cross-border tourism along the Southern Coastal Corridor, stimulate employment, and create income-generating opportunities for local residents and over 100 local businesses.
At the launch event, Transport Minister Peng Ponea stated that the MOU signed with AZ Builder in June 2024 stipulates that the company will have the right to operate, manage, repair, and maintain the port, and will collect its revenue for 20 years, with the first six years of operation also exempt from taxes.
During the trial operation, AZ Builder cooperated with Virak Buntham Express to facilitate transport from the port to Koh Rong Sanloem and Koh Sdach, the Minister added.
Kampot province recently also launched the first phase of construction for another larger port, the ‘Kampot Logistics & Multipurpose Port’, which was also launched by Prime Minister Hun Manet. This international deep-sea port is projected to cost around USD 1.5 billion to construct.
Cambodia currently has a total of 119 seaports and river ports, including the coastal port of Sihanoukville and the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port along the Tonle Sap river.