Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Thailand to give four locomotives to Cambodia to link the railways between the two countries

Tin Sokhavuth



Mr. Ly Borin, under secretary of state at the Ministry of Public Work and Transport (MPWT), told reporters on Tuesday that Thai government would like to provide four locomotives to the Cambodian government in a view to connect the railways between the two countries.

Mr. Borin added that the four locomotives should be given to the Cambodian government on the occasion of the launching ceremony of the railway section connecting the two countries in Poipet District, Banteay Meanchey Province, in July this year.

On the other hand, according to Mr. Sun Chanthol, minister of the MPWT, during the handover ceremony, Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-o-cha will get in a train together to cross the border between the two countries.

However, Minister Sun Chanthol said that the sections of the railway between the Capital Phnom Penh and Battambang City, and between Banteay Meanchey province’s Sisophon town and Battambang City, are unrestored due to the lack of funding.

Minister Chanthol added that to restore those poor tract sections, an estimated $17 million is needed.

The agreement to link the railways between the two countries was signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen and Mr. Prayuth in late 2015 with the aim to boost bilateral trade to up to $15billion by 2020.

Mr. May Kalyan, a senior advisor to the government’s Supreme National Economic Council, said that the rail link will attract investors from Thailand to Cambodia because it will be cheaper to transport goods.

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