Cambodia will take the benefits for the China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which plays a crucial role for the global and regional connectivity and cross-border trade.

Sun Chanthol, Public Works and Transport Minister said on Friday at Connect Cambodia Forum: Unlocking Opportunities in E-Trade that the BRI can give more chance to get all countriesconnected and it will help to spur cross-border trade from Cambodia to many other countries.

“The Belt and Road Initiative can help us to boost our trade and give us more ability to connect with many other countries in the region and the world,”said Mr.Chanthol, adding that Cambodian government via the ministry of public works already set-up the National Logistics Council which is an actor to deal with the current high logistic costs in order to build the country’s competiveness at the global market.

Steven Li, Senior Vice President of Shenzhen 4PX Express, under the Alibaba Cainiao Logistic Group, said though Cambodia had already participated in the Belt and Road initiative, but Cambodia has yet ready with its logistic infrastructure which is hard to boost e-commerce and e-trade further between Cambodia and China.

“I think Cambodia is now connected to the one belt one road, but in terms of the logistic infrastructure, they still not ready. So, I think in this way, if Cambodia can do the same way as European Countries, it will be easier for China to send e-commerce products from China to Cambodia, south-east countries. And also, we can import a lot from these countries... We can generate jobs here, with one belt one road,” Mr Li added.

The BRI is China’s development strategy proposed by Chinese President Xi Jingping in 2013 mainly focusing on connectivity and cooperation between participating countries, spur a trade and improving the infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of Silk Road.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)