A bird’s eye view of the roads connecting Stung Bot to National Road 5, on February 16. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Construction of the Stung Bot border checkpoint in Banteay Meanchey province and a service road which will connect it to National Road 5 is now 80 per cent complete.
Experts in the travel sector expect that when the new checkpoint begins operating, it will stimulate trade and tourism activities between Cambodia and Thailand.
The checkpoint is in Phsar Kandal commune’s Stung Bot village on the Cambodian side, and in Tha Kham subdistrict’s Ban Nong Ian village of Sa Kaeo province’s Aranyaprathet district at the terminus of Highway 3366 on the Thai side.
According to provincial governor Um Reatrey, the remaining work includes the international gate and its offices, dormitory buildings, storage depots, a container yard and the new road which will connect it to the Kingdom’s major arterial routes.
“After reviewing the progress of the work, the World Bank outlined the procedures for facilitating cross-border transport of goods and passengers. Through the implementation of various memoranda and agreements, the checkpoint will boost economic growth throughout the region, and indeed the country,” he said.
Cambodia Logistics Association (CLA) president Sin Chanthy said on February 19 that the Stung Bot border checkpoint is long overdue and will serve as a very important gateway. Currently, both goods transportation and the arrival and departure of passengers and tourists take place through the same crossing, at Aranyaprathet-Poipet.
“This is a good arrangement by the authorities of both countries. The separation of crossing points for cargo and passengers will reduce congestion, especially for large trucks,” he added.
He added that the private sector is hoping the gate will be partially opened in the near future.
“Currently, the transportation of goods through Poipet is not a huge problem, but the temporary opening of the Stung Bot-Ban Nong Ian international border checkpoint would speed up transport activities and boost trade between Cambodia and Thailand,” he continued.
The construction is being undertaken by CM Grand Development Co Ltd & Tan Kim EngCo Ltd and overseen by Team Consulting Engineering and Management Plc. Built at a cost of approximately $24 million under a loan from the Neighboring Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA), the construction is scheduled to be completed later this year.
