On January 16, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Sun Chanthol chaired a high-level review of the EuroCham Policy Paper aimed at revolutionizing the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS). This public-private collaboration focuses on three critical pillars: managing surging cargo volumes, outperforming regional competition, and accelerating digitalization. By integrating European expertise with Cambodia’s $3.7B infrastructure roadmap, the Royal Government is signaling a deep commitment to transforming the nation’s logistics backbone into a world-class, transparent, and high-efficiency hub.
1. The Strategy: A Response to Global Demands
The meeting served as a second-phase review of recommendations first proposed by EuroCham’s Transport and Logistics Committee in August 2025. The goal is to move from “discussion” to “concrete action.”
The 3 Strategic Focal Points:
- Managing Growth: Handling the massive increase in workload as Cambodia’s exports (including tires and electronics) continue to break records.
- Regional Competitiveness: Ensuring PAS remains the preferred choice over other production hubs in Southeast Asia.
- Logistics Speed: Enhancing the “Time-to-Market” for international firms through streamlined operations.
2. Digitalization: The Transparency Revolution
A highlight of the session was the presentation by PAS officials on their digital transformation. By moving toward a fully digitalized monitoring and management system, the port aims to:
- Enhance Transparency: Reducing unofficial costs and providing clear tracking for investors.
- Boost Service Speed: Minimizing physical paperwork to ensure faster vessel turnaround times.
- Flexible Administration: Aligning public service modernization with the needs of European and American business standards.
3. Open for Europe: A Signal to High-Value Investors
H.E. Sun Chanthol reaffirmed Cambodia’s “Open Door” policy for European capital. The government’s reform agenda is now hyper-focused on:
- Physical Connectivity: Linking the port to the national rail and the Funan Techo Canal.
- Pro-Business Reforms: Making administrative services more flexible and modernized.
Expert Insight: “When the CDC chairs a meeting with EuroCham specifically about port efficiency, it means the government is listening to the ‘Pain Points’ of Western logistics. This level of cooperation is a massive green flag for MNCs (Multi-National Corporations) looking for a reliable ASEAN base.”
Orkun Santepheap’s Perspective: Why the “PAS Upgrade” is Your Success Story
For years, logistics costs were the “elephant in the room” for Cambodian investment. Today’s meeting shows those walls are coming down. By inviting EuroCham to the table, the government is essentially saying, “Tell us how to be better for your companies.” For American investors watching from across the Pacific, this means your goods will move faster, cheaper, and more transparently through Sihanoukville in 2026.
Recommended Reading
- The $2.4 Billion Trust Surge: Secure Asset Management for Foreign Investors – Learn how your investments are protected once they enter the country.
- Sihanoukville Revival: $208M in New Incentives for 2026 – Why the city around the port is the next big real estate play.