The Ministry of Public Works and Transport plans to finalise a draft on “Framework Agreement” for the Phnom Penh Logistics Centre (PPLC) development project soon, leading to a signing with the developer, according to minister Sun Chanthol.

Chanthol and senior officials of relevant ministries and institutions met representatives of Singapore-based YCH and international legal adviser Alex Sanford via video link on December 21.

The focus of the meeting was to review the latest version of the draft, collect additional input and ensure the legal content of the document is acceptable to all parties and in line with national and international standards.

In line with the long-term vision of the government, PPLC is a centre with the potential to promote the transport sector to be more efficient and competitive with regional countries and the globe as a whole in terms of price and service, the minister said.

“PPLC will also be a driving force for Cambodia’s economic growth and achieve the Royal Government’s vision to develop Cambodia as a high-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050.

“I would like to express my deep gratitude to the meeting for providing valuable input for the sake of consistency in the terms of this agreement in accordance with the legal context of the current Cambodian socio-economic laws, as well as present and future regional and global economies,” Chanthol said.

Chhieng Pich, director of the ministry’s General Department of Logistics, told The Post on December 22 that after reviewing all aspects, the Inter-Ministerial Committee agreed in principle on three points of revision to add to the framework draft for submittal to YCH for review and decision.

However, he said, the three points have not been revealed to the public yet and is pending an official decision from the company.

“If the company agrees on these three points, we will set a deadline to sign a framework agreement as soon as possible, which could take place early next year,” Pich said.

The PPLC is located on 98ha in Samrong Krom commune, Por Sen Chey district, Phnom Penh in a strategic location which links the deep-sea port in Preah Sihanouk province with the northern railway line that goes through Poipet town and onto the Thai border.

It is located near Phnom Penh International Airport, National Road 4 and National Road 3, as well as the train station’s storage location and Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone.

Chantol has also instructed the ad hoc committee headed by Pich to cooperate with stakeholders and investment companies to finalise the draft of the agreement to ensure a prompt signing between the public works ministry and YCH as planned.