Over $100 m for the first-ever biggest cement factory in Cambodia

Heng Neang

Cambodia News

Phnom Penh: With more than US$100 million investment, Chakrey Ting Cement Factory in Kampot province will start operating soon and it will become the first-ever biggest cement factory in the country.

Zhang Jun, Chinese and the General Manger of the Cambodia Cement Chakrey Ting Factory Co., Ltd, said part of US$100 investment is coming from loans of Bank of China and on Sunday night of 18 November, the loan signing ceremony was made in front of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and his Cambodian counterpart — Hun Sen — in the Peace Palace building in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Ok-nha Lim Rose, the Chairman of the Board Members of the Cambodia Cement Chakrey Ting Factory Co., Ltd, said the plant will produce up to 3,200 tons per day or 1.1 million tons per year which is the huge amount of cement products in Cambodia. He said the plant is the joint venture between Cambodia’s Cement Construction Resource Co., Ltd — the AZ company’s alliance — and Chinese company, Urec Overseas Investment Co., Ltd.

According to Zhang, the Cement Chakrey Ting Factory will send 50 technical employees to study in China and while being constructed, the company needs some 1.000 workers.

300 people will be employed when the factory starts, Zhang said by adding that this is part of the company’s participation with the Royal Government of Cambodia s in providing jobs to the citizens and helping the country’s reduce poverty.

The Cambodia Cement Chakrey Ting Factory will be equipped by modern tools with the latest technology imported from abroad so that the cement product is reaching high quality and international standard. Although the brand name of the cement product has not yet officially named, Zhang said the company will also export its products to foreign countries that is very proud of the Cambodian industry.

The Cement Chakrey Ting Factory was built in Sangkum Reastr Niyum or People’s Socialist Community regime under Samdech Norodom Sihanouk’s leadership and it was put in first operation in 1962. The factory was then damaged during the civil war and the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime. Since the liberation day on 7 January, 1979 from the Khmer Rouge killing fields, the factory has been operated interruptive due to security reason, lack of capital, and the infrastructures such as electricity and roads condition. While the country is being integrated in the regional and the global economy and trade, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen has decided to provide both Chinese and Cambodia companies to reinvest the factory in order to respond to the economic growth and development.

Zhang hinted that the factory would start officially operating in early 2014.

Ok-nha Lim Rose (right), Chairman of the Board Members of the Cambodia Cement Chakrey Ting Factory Co., Ltd, shakes hand with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao (left) in the Peace Palace building in Phnom Penh, Cambodia after signing loan agreement with representative of Bank of China in the evening of Sunday 18 November, 2012. (Photo: Cambodia News)