Cambodia expects to benefit from additional management and
development skills in waterways and ports as a member of the World
Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC), Ministry of
Public Works and Transport secretary of state Eang Veng Sun said on
Thursday.

The remarks came on the opening day of the first PIANC-Cambodia
workshop in Phnom Penh, being held on Thursday and Friday under the
theme Waterway Infrastructure Development.

Veng Sun said waterway transport has played an important role in
boosting Cambodia's economic growth. The high domestic demand for goods
meant the waterway transport and port sectors needed to meet
international standards.

“We hope this workshop will encourage Cambodian ports to support and
facilitate the flow of goods for international and domestic trade,” he
said.

PIANC is a globally recognised international organisation that
promotes the maintenance and development of waterway and port
infrastructure. It currently has members in 65 countries, of which 40,
including Cambodia, are “qualifying members”.

The acronym PIANC comes from the organisation's former name – the Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses.

Veng Sun said the Kingdom was recognised as a qualifying member in September last year.

“The joining of PIANC will ensure enhanced skills in managing and
developing port and waterway infrastructure in Cambodia for connection
with ports and the shipping community worldwide,” he said.

Speaking at the workshop, PIANC vice-president Hiroshi Hayashida said
the organisation's current aim is to provide the public and private
sectors with technical assistance from international experts on the
economic and environmental issues related to waterway transport
infrastructure.

“We want to strengthen mutual cooperation with Cambodia . . . Today's
workshop is a symbol of the reinforcement of PIANC's cooperation with
the Kingdom,” he said.

Hayashida, who is also president of PIANC-Japan, said Cambodia needed
to further strengthen management and technological development in the
waterway transportation sector.

"The Japanese government has been helping in the development of new
technologies at Sihanoukville port, as well as helping develop
operational and management knowledge to serve the sector," Hayashida
said.

Cambodia Freight Forwarders Association president Sin Chanthy said
the Kingdom's waterway transport sector struggled to attract large
vessels as shipping services remained more expensive than in
neighbouring Vietnam and Thailand.

“We only see smaller boats carrying goods through Cambodia’s ports, we don't get large vessels,” Chanthy said.

He said the government should encourage the use of waterways to
transport goods rather than doing so by land as this was costly and
damaged roads.

Ministry of Public Works and Transport undersecretary of state Chan
Dara said the government is currently focusing on developing the
waterway transport sector.

“We do not want our waterways to remain motionless, without any
activity. Transport via waterways will boost Cambodia's economy. It will
bring people income and contribute to poverty reduction in Cambodia,”
he said.