Sihanoukville Expects to See New Special Economic Zone
Cambodia’s coastal province, Sihanoukville, is expecting to see the establishment of another new Special Economic Zone (SEZ) over an area of 340 hectares, with local media reports stating that the SEZ is in the final stages of approval from the government.
The new SEZ, the East Sihanouk Special Economic Zone, is developed by the East Group consortium. News of the SEZ was shared following a meeting on March 4, 2025, between East Group Board Chairman, Ly Seng Kheang, and H.E. Sun Chanthol, First Vice-President of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), along with East Group’s technical advisor, Nang Sothy.
According to a government report, there are no confirmed details yet on how much capital will be invested in the new 340-hectare SEZ, which is reported to be located in Bet Trang and Ou Oknha Heng communes of Prey Nob district.
The new SEZ is expected to include residential zones, retail areas, and small, medium, and large factories, according to Nang Sothy. The project will be developed in three phases, with phase one covering 90 hectares. The company has already constructed a 20-metre wide road, approximately 1.5 kilometers in length, to connect National Road No. 4 to the project site.
Sothy added that global shifts in the manufacturing base due to U.S. tariffs have prompted some investors to relocate to developing countries, including Cambodia. He stated that several companies, mostly from China, have already expressed interest in opening manufacturing facilities in the East Sihanouk Special Economic Zone.
In January 2025, Sihanoukville also welcomed the launch of the new ISI SEZ located along the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, which was developed by local conglomerate, ISI Group, with an over USD 50 million investment.
The CDC approved 10 new Special Economic Zone (SEZ) investment projects in 2024, with a total capital of USD 850 million, expected to employ about 4,000 workers.
According to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), from January to November 2024, Cambodia’s 16 SEZs contributed approximately USD 5.43 billion to the country’s exports, while total exports for the year amounted to USD 26 billion.