Chinese Firm Opens $360 Million Sugar Mill, Country’s Biggest

[geovalin]

Khmer Times/Sok Chan

Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday opened the country’s biggest sugar mill, a $360 million Chinese-owned plant in Preah Vihear that will produce half a-million tons a year, and called for more investment from the world’s second-largest economy. The plant, set in a 43,422-hectare sugar plantation, will also generate about 30 megawatts of electricity from its waste to supply the province, reducing its reliance on power from Phnom Penh. It is part of a $1 billion three-stage plan to expand the plantation and build an ethanol factory and a fertilizer plant.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Chinese Ambassador Bu Jianguo and drew about 20,000 peoploe, according to local media reports. The mill is owned by Rui Feng (Cambodia) International and took two years to build. “This is the biggest mill in Cambodia,” Mr. Hun Sen said. About 7,000 people will work in the plant in the first stage with production aimed mainly at export to Europe and China.

“This huge investment clearly shows that investors have firm confidence in the Cambodian People’s Party-led government and also reflects the excellent relations and mutual trust between China and Cambodia,” he said.

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