Background
Cambodia has experienced rapid urbanization over the past twenty years with much of the growth focused on larger urban centres. From 2000-2020 urban areas grew at an average rate of 4.50 % annually – representing an urban population explosion driven mostly by rural-urban migration and to a lesser extent natural population growth. In 2019, 39.4 per cent of the population officially live in cities. This figure is expected to rise to 50 per cent by 2050.
Preah Sihanouk Province is located in the Southwest of Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand and around 260 Km from Phnom Penh Capital along national road No.4. Preah Sihanouk Province is one of the economic growth poles along with Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Extending over 2,658 Km2, Preah Sihanouk Province has 3 districts, 2 municipalities in which there are 23 communes, 6 Sangkats and 111 villages. According to 2021 Population Data from Provincial Administration, Population in Preah Sihanouk is 227,625 with density of 85.63 people/km2. The poverty declined from 14.02 in 2015 to 4.44% in 2019 while the economic growth rate increased from 8.1 in 2015 to 9.9 in 2018 (Preah Sihanouk Province 5-year development plan 2020-2024).
In recent years, the Preah Sihanouk province has been on a rapid development trajectory. The province has more factories, resorts, hotels and casinos than ever before and is experiencing a fast urbanization trend. As a result, new opportunities have been created which were unimaginable just a few years ago. The five special economic zones established in the province have created new employment opportunities, one of these zones alone accounting for approximately 23 000 jobs. Between 2016 and 2018, employment in the agricultural sector declined steadily while the construction and manufacturing sector saw an increase by 4.5 and 5.2 percentage points respectively. Rapid urbanization has also put a strain on infrastructure. As a response to poor road quality, the Royal Government of Cambodia recently vouched to rehabilitate 34 roads across the province with a total spending plan of $294 million. The Cambodian government has also issued a sub-decree establishing a new inter-ministerial committee, with the designated tasks of creating policies and land management plans to develop Preah Sihanouk Province into a multi-purpose special economic zone. The establishment of the inter-ministerial commission is another step forward to the government’s major goal of transforming Sihanoukville into a large-scale industrial city in Cambodia.
Objectives
The main objective of this programme is to promote a people-centered smart cities approach through National Urban Policies, mainly based on the collaboration with MOLIT (the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport) of the Republic of Korea. Other partners and donors will contribute to the overall project. The project interventions will ensure the increased focus on mainstreaming sustainable and inclusive digital transition in high-level political forums on urban policy-sensitive and people-centered smart cities. It will utilize, leverage and enhance UN-Habitat’s people-centred smart cities flagship, to build the next generation of Smart Cities Strategies integrated within NUPs to be more advanced.
Donors and Key project stakeholders
Donor:
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Republic of Korea (MOLIT)
Key Project Stakeholders:
Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration in consultation with National Smart City Steering Committee, Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, and Ministry of Interior
Relevant Links
The National Urban Policy Programme Phase II Overview in Cambodia
Dissemination Workshop of Smart City Action Plan for Preah Sihanouk Province
Smart City Action Plan for Preah Sihanouk ProvinceSmart City Action Plan for Preah Sihanouk Province Leaflet
