Following the completion in July of the section stretching from Siem Reap to Kampong Cham province, National Road 6 was officially inaugurated yesterday in a ceremony presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen.
The thoroughfare is now officially in service, after a renovation that has taken 50 months and cost more than $255 million, which was mostly financed with a concessional loan from the Chinese government.
Work on the last section of the road – which spans 200 kilometres and crosses the provinces of Siem Reap, Kampong Thom and Kampong Cham – finished nearly a year ago.
“Thanks to our Chinese friends we have been able to build our internal road network which will improve people’s lives,” Prime Minister Hun Sen said.
Sun Chanthol, the Minister of Transport, highlighted the importance of having completed such an ambitious road renovation project.
“This road will facilitate travel and cargo transportation, reducing logistics costs and helping to further integrate Cambodia into the Asean community,” the minister said.
“Simultaneously, this road will play a key role in increasing the number of tourists in the country, particularly in Kampong Thom, Siem Reap and neighbouring provinces like Preah Vihear, which are rich in historical sites and nature.
“In addition to this, people living near the road will gain access to new opportunities for employment and training as tourism investment in the area booms,” he added.
