The company Shanghai Hantang Shipping is planning to expand its activities to Cambodia. This involves a prestigious canal project. There are also plans to build its own shipyard in the country.
At a meeting in Shanghai, the top management of SHS, led by Managing Director Jason Fan, presented the company’s expansion plans to Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol.
Among other things, the aim is to build ships for the Cambodian market in future and to help shape the country’s maritime infrastructure.
The initial plan is to export multi-purpose vessels. This will later be followed by the establishment of its own shipyard in the Kingdom. SHS also wants to establish a joint venture to anchor production, maintenance and logistics locally. SHS is also interested in investing in the Funan-Techo Canal project and the associated logistics systems.
The Funan-Techo Canal project is a planned 180 km long waterway in Cambodia that will connect the Mekong River with the Gulf of Thailand. The aim is to improve sea access and make Cambodian goods exports less dependent on Vietnamese ports. The canal is also intended to open up new logistics centers, ports and industrial zones along the route. Chinese investors see great economic opportunities in this.
Sun Chanthol welcomed the Chinese company’s interest and invited the SHS leadership to visit Cambodia. The aim is to get to know the framework conditions for investments and to develop joint projects. The project is intended to create new jobs, strengthen the economy and deepen cooperation between the two countries in the maritime sector.
SHS is a maritime company based in Shanghai and offers integrated services in the areas of ship transportation, shipbuilding, logistics and supply chain management. The company operates coastal and container transportation, develops shipbuilding projects and provides comprehensive logistics solutions including multimodal transportation and warehousing logistics. The regional focus is on China and Southeast Asia, particularly with a view to new markets such as Cambodia.
Significant development potential
The deep-sea port of Sihanoukville is considered a possible location for the planned shipyard. It is the country’s most important port, offers access to international sea trade routes and is currently being modernized and expanded as part of government programs. Kampot International Port is also being discussed as a potential location. It is located directly on the Gulf of Thailand and is geared towards growth, particularly with regard to logistics and industrial settlements.
Cambodia does not yet have a significant shipbuilding industry. The focus to date has been on expanding transshipment capacities and logistics. However, the government sees considerable development potential in the maritime sector and is specifically promoting foreign investment, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, maintenance and transportation services. The entry of SHS could therefore provide a strategic impetus and position Cambodia as a regional location for shipbuilding and maritime services in the long term. (rup)
