Ice attraction for Koh Pich

Photo by: Pha Lina
Workers fabricate Cambodia’s new ice rink, thought to be its first, on Diamond Island in Phnom Penh.

via CAAI

Thursday, 16 September 2010 15:00 Soeun Say

A US$2 million ice-skating rink and night market are scheduled to open on Phnom Penh’s Diamond Island – also due to become the home of the world’s second-tallest tower – in time for the Khmer Water Festival this November.

As part a plan to transform the isle into a consumer paradise, developers Overseas Cambodia Investment Cooperation – which have the same owners as Canadia Bank – are building new attractions, sparking a swarm of new businesses on the island.

Among the newest additions are a “ghost house” and an ice-skating rink, which officials said yesterday were 90 percent complete and set to open their doors in time for the Water Festival.

The two attractions are set on a plot of about 1,000 square metres, and an as-yet-unnamed Chinese company has agreed to rent the ice rink, OCIC said.

Officials added yesterday that retail space at the isle’s 108-store night market, due to be officially launched within two months, is already sold out.

“We’ve rented 100 percent of our store, and we are already opening some shops for customers,” Koh Pich night market manager Lamp Sopheap said yesterday.

Fast food chains KFC, Lucky Burger, BB World and Pizza Company are due to open in November, he said.

Those investing in island outlets believe it will become an area of growth.

Sok Vong, operation manager of Lucky Burger, said that Diamond Island had become a popular destination for visitors.

“We have seen that Koh Pich has already built a lot of things, and we hope that they will build more,” he said.

Prak Chan Long, general manager of Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Centre, said yesterday that the decision to build the new attraction was made to “upgrade our place to attract customers”.

Diamond Island, also known as Koh Pich, is already home to a wedding centre and an exhibition centre.

Earlier this month, it was announced that $200 million would be put towards developing the first stage of a 555-metre tower on the island.

Another $200 million has been put towards developing Koh Pich. When first approved, the project was slated for completion by 2016.