Tax revenue is up this year at the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced in a speech to port workers on Monday.
Hun Sen said that in the first three months of 2006, tax revenue increased 17 percent on the back of a 24 percent increase in the number of shipping containers passing through the port.
The prime minister praised port workers for reducing the processing time per container to only 3 hours in 2005. He said, however, that he expects the processing time to drop to between 5 and 10 minutes next year when new “one-stop service” facilities are completed in May 2007.
When that happens, CamControl, customs and port administration will all be located in one building.
Lou Kim Chhun, the director general of the port, said total revenue was $22 million in 2005 and he expected a 15 to 20 percent increase in containers for the entire year.
He credited service improvements with the 17 percent increase so far this year.
“I think many companies trust our port service,” he said.
Hei Bavy, the director general of the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port, said that revenue increased 10 percent in the first three months of 2006. He said the port earned $2.5 million in 2005 and expects to earn $3 million this year.
“We can’t challenge Sihanoukville port,” Hei Bavy said.
He added that the port in June will open a 9.5-hectare container depot in Russei Keo district to reduce truck traffic in central Phnom Penh.
