A groundbreaking ceremony was held on November 11 for the construction of the Ministry of Interior’s new nine-storey headquarters building on the same site in Tonle Bassac commune of Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district.

Interior minister Sar Kheng presided over the ceremony along with many other officials.

Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak told The Post on November 11 that the new building faces east along Norodom Blvd and the Chatomok River. The building measures 153m by 83m with nine floors and indoor parking space for 330 cars.

“According to the plan, construction will take two years at a cost of $60 million,” he said, adding that the design of the building is classic Khmer architecture.

He continued that the construction was approved by the head of the government with the ministry setting a specific construction plan in November. Scheduled completion is in August 2023, and the construction company is Kim Mex Construction & Investment Co Ltd.

Sopheak said that the total area of the building is 105,545sqm and is set back 43.5m from Norodom Blvd. The building can accommodate up to 8,500 people.