Cambodia to open new border crossings

via CAAI

Wednesday, 29 December 2010 15:00 Soeun Say

CAMBODIA plans to open three more border crossings with Vietnam as part of a plan to double the number of vehicles passing through the bilateral border, according to an official from the Ministry of Public Works.

With four international gates already open between the two nations, the three new crossings will assist with tourism from the Kingdom’s eastern neighbour, according to Va Sin Sorya, general director of the ministry’s Department of Administration.

“These border [crossings] are mostly opening for transporting tourists and Vietnamese nationals across the border to visit Angkor Wat,” he said.

“We have agreed with Vietnam to open seven border gates. We’ve already opened four – now, we’re opening three more for transportation,” he said.

The three new border gates include a crossing between Ratanakkiri and Vietnam’s Gia Lai province, a crossing between Kratie and Binh Phuoc provinces, and a crossing between Mondulkiri and Dak Nong provinces.

Cambodia’s Deputy General Director of the Department of Transport Chan Dara had lead a delegation to an annual conference in Vietnam on December 27, where the two sides agreed to open the three new gates.

The move to open more crossings would prove beneficial for both countries, but would likely be quiet at first, according to Sok Chanmony, president of the Cambodia Bus Association and owner of Paramount Tours.

“We welcome both governments agreeing to open the crossings – but at the moment, we will not cross there,” he said.

Paramount had tried crossing through Takeo and Kampong Cham borders, but had attracted few passengers, he said.

“Now, we only bring our passengers through Bavet International border [in Svay Rieng province],” he said.

The association would wait for the market to develop, and planned to beginning crossings as soon as was possible.

The Post could not obtain comment from Vietnam's Embassy in Phnom Penh yesterday.