Cambodia’s rail network is due to be reconstructed by 2013 with an estimated several hundred million dollars’ worth of international financial support, Cambodian Finance Minister Keat Chhon stated yesterday.

“The project implementation process began in 2007 and is expected to be completed in 2013”, explained Finance Minister Keat Chhon at a ceremony during which the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Australian government allocated more funds to complete the network (42 and 21.5 million dollars respectively). Another 13 million will come from the OPEC Fund for International Development, while Malaysia has contributed towards the building of 106 km of rail track. The total cost of reconstructing 600 km of track is expected to reach 141.6 million dollars, confirmed Keat Chhon. The Cambodian authorities hope the reconstruction will boost economic growth and facilitate trade with neighbouring countries.

(Source: “Le petit journal” in Bangkok with AFP)