EuroCham and CDC Advance Dialogue on Streamlining Logistics and Improving Efficiency at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port

EuroCham Cambodia convened its Second Coordination Meeting on the Implementation of Recommendations for the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS) at the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), marking the latest milestone in its ongoing dialogue with the Royal Government of Cambodia to streamline procedures, strengthen logistics performance, and enhance customs and port operations.

The meeting was chaired by H.E. Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice-Chairperson of the CDC, and led on behalf of EuroCham by Tassilo Brinzer, Vice-Chairperson of EuroCham Cambodia. Experts from EuroCham’s Transport & Logistics Committee presented targeted, operational recommendations and exchanged views with representatives from PAS on current progress and next steps.

This coordination meeting builds on earlier engagements, including discussions held under the Cambodia–Europe Public-Private Sector Dialogue framework, and reflects EuroCham’s continued commitment to constructive, solution-oriented collaboration with government institutions to support Cambodia’s ambition of becoming a competitive regional logistics hub.

“The logistics infrastructure has made great advances during the past 12 months, in particular the express logistics sector and related customs operations have massively shed red tape, gained speed, and reduced administrative costs while increasing thresholds for exporters and adapting to refined digital processes," said Brinzer. “The Sihanoukville Port Authority is working hard to cope with a very strong export growth and to upgrade infrastructure and handling capacities. It's a good problem to have but it does pose challenges for the industry and for exporters.” 

Recognising the central role of PAS as Cambodia’s only deep-sea port, discussions focused on the growing pressure the port is expected to face as container volumes approach 1.5 million TEUs this year, ahead of the next major expansion phase scheduled for completion in 2027. Participants highlighted the importance of addressing short- to medium-term operational challenges through efficiency-driven reforms, particularly to mitigate congestion risks and optimise existing infrastructure.

EuroCham’s Transport & Logistics Committee presented private-sector recommendations based on direct operational experience, addressing four priority areas: electronic data interchange connectivity, road accessibility and gate flow management, rail accessibility and competitiveness, and the need to balance cargo volumes more evenly throughout the week.

“EuroCham’s Transport & Logistics Committee is encouraged by the constructive momentum of our advocacy work with the Royal Government of Cambodia and Sihanoukville Autonomous Port. Over the past year, our engagement has helped advance practical, short-term solutions focused on reducing bottlenecks and improving operational efficiency, while remaining fully aligned with the government’s broader logistics modernisation agenda," said Kaushal Rohilla, Vice-Chairperson of Transport & Logistics Committee, and General Manager of CMA CGM (CAMBODIA).

"Supporting the Royal Government’s reform and investment plans for PAS is strategically important to strengthening Cambodia’s trade competitiveness, improving reliability for exporters, and reinforcing investor confidence as the Kingdom positions itself as a regional logistics hub,” he added.

Key proposals included enabling system-to-system integration between PAS digital platforms and private logistics systems to improve planning and gate management; reassessing rail handling fees to encourage greater use of rail as an alternative to road transport; expanding customs availability at port gates to support extended and night-time operations; and introducing incentives to promote off-peak use of the Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville Expressway to smooth traffic flows and reduce peak-hour congestion.

Throughout the discussions, representatives from PAS shared updates on current operational improvements and exchanged technical perspectives with industry experts. Both sides acknowledged the progress already achieved, while underlining the urgency of further measures to manage rising volumes until major infrastructure expansion is completed.

For logistics operators, shipping lines, exporters, and manufacturers, improvements at PAS are directly linked to cost competitiveness, predictability of supply chains, and investor confidence. Congestion, limited system integration, and constrained operating windows continue to translate into higher costs and operational uncertainty. Addressing these constraints through practical, coordinated reforms was widely recognised as critical to sustaining Cambodia’s trade performance and manufacturing attractiveness.

In his closing remarks, H.E. Sun Chanthol reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ongoing engagement with the private sector and welcomed continued technical coordination to support PAS’s development and Cambodia’s broader logistics strategy.

EuroCham welcomed the constructive dialogue and confirmed its commitment to continue working closely with the CDC, PAS, and relevant line ministries to translate private-sector insights into implementable solutions. The meeting concluded with agreement to maintain regular coordination as both sides advance efforts to improve port efficiency, customs processes, and the overall logistics ecosystem in Cambodia.

This press release was supplied.