– Samdech Venerable Preah Moha Somethea Thepadei NUON NGET,
– Excellencies Senators, Members of Parliament, and Members of the Royal Government,
– Excellencies Ambassadors to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Ladies and Gentlemen,
– Dear all compatriots,
Today, I am pleased to be here again to join Preah Moha Somethea Thepadei, Your Venerable Monks, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen in the inauguration of the New Preah Monivong Bridge and the opening of a New Skyway’s Construction Site in Phnom Penh. In this auspicious moment, I would like to congratulate Your Venerable Monks, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, and all compatriots who will have to cross over this bridge to the National Road No. 1 and No. 2 and the construction site of a new Skyway which will be opened soon. Preah Monivong Bridge is another symbol of the hard work and cooperation between the Municipality of Phnom Penh, local authorities, and Phnom Penh’s inhabitants who have contribute to the Royal Government’s effort in the rehabilitation and construction of all infrastructures, especially the construction of the most-needed physical infrastructure.
Along with this, I would like to show my appreciation for the participation of Your Venerable Monks, elders, and compatriots in this ceremony. Your presence reflects the joy, congratulation and firm support for the Royal Government that is working hard to explore all options to relieve its people’s hardship. Moreover, your support is a big motivation for me and other government officials to further strive to implement all Royal Government’s strategies and policies in order to alleviate poverty and enhance people’s living standard both in Phnom Penh and rural areas.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to show my appreciation to the Municipality of Phnom Penh and all related institutions for completing the construction of this bridge which is a new hope and reflects the participation from all level of authorities in the Royal Government’s pursuit of developing infrastructure. Along with this, we also hope that the historic bridge and opening of the construction site of a new skyway will help promote Phnom Penh’s reputation as a centre for politics, administration, diplomacy, economy, trade, industry, and tourism as well as broaden Phnom Penh city.
According to the H.E. KEP CHUTIMA, the governor of Phnom Penh, around USD 10 million have been use to finance the construction of this bridge which has taken 2 years and 5 months to complete. This bridge is identical to the old one, it measures 269.5 meters long and 14 meters wide and is supported by many pillars, and the distance between the new and old bridge is 30 meters. This is another flagship achievement of the Municipality of Phnom Penh in the 4th term of the Legislature of the National Assembly. The New Monivong Bridge will bring about both economic and social benefits to the people and passengers travelling across Phnom Penh. Adding to transport benefit, this bridge will also enhance the beauty of Phnom Penh city. Moreover, I am also pleased with the opening of the construction site of a new skyway that are located at the end of both old and new bridge. The skyway will be built of reinforced concrete and measure 308 meters long, 14.2 meters wide and 7.4 meters high. The budget for the construction of this skyway is USD 6,048,424 and it is expected to complete within 12 months after the opening of construction site. This will become the first-even skyway in the history of Phnom Penh, and I think this construction is just the beginning of more skyways throughout Phnom Penh city and other provinces while the country is moving forward. I strongly believe that the Municipality of Phnom Penh will work harder to improve the infrastructure and beauty of the city by using own or mobilized resources.
Obviously, social demand is increasing from day to day in all sectors while traffic and transportation will also increase significantly. Being in this situation, if we are not promoting the construction, expansion and improvement of roads and bridges infrastructure, we will not be able to address issues of traffic jam, internal integration and to achieve economic efficiency and equitable distribution of growth, and as result people living in the rural area will still face with obstacles and would not able to benefit from the fruits of development. Infrastructure development is a very appropriate scenario which is consistent with the current circumstance and geography of high economic potential which we must support and promote.
Currently, Cambodia has rehabilitated and improved quite a number of physical infrastructure as foundation for socio-economic development such road, transportation system, telecommunication network, electricity and energy system…etc… Infrastructure development such as the construction of roads and bridges is the key priority as inscribed in the Rectangular Strategy-Phase II of the Royal Government, and is of strategic nature in the implementation of pacification and physical integration policies and policies for promoting and supporting economic growth and poverty reduction of the people. As a result, the improvement of physical infrastructure has provided supports for Cambodian economic growth and development for the last several years.
The construction of roads and bridges is task of strategic nature in carrying out pacification and physical integration policies of Cambodia and policies for promoting and supporting economic growth and poverty reduction. Through these, the government has always been making the effort to restore and build roads and bridges nation-wide. Separately, the New Phreah Monivong Bridge which we are to going to inaugurate and the opening of the construction site of a new skyway will be become a historical construction for dwellers of this area as well as all people living in Phnom Penh because this bridge is strategic channel for economic integration which will link one economic hub to another. Indeed, this connecting is my whish for which I always emphasize that “Develop the west without forgetting the east”. Therefore this achievement will balance the development between the two regions. This is the overall benefit from this bridge. Of course, this did not happen accidentally, rather it occurred from the effort and the decision of the Royal Government for the cause of internal integration, economic efficiency, equitable distribution of growth, and the solution to traffic jam.
Indeed, political stability, peace, security, social order, economic development and macroeconomic stability are prerequisites which require the Royal Government to keep making further effort to develop infrastructure nation-wide and respond to the current need of the civilized society such as the construction of this skyway. Presently, although the infrastructure has been proudly expanded and improved we should not stop here. For the last three mandates, the Royal Government has made huge investment in repairing, constructing, rehabilitating all kind of infrastructure, both in social and economic sectors, such as schools, hospitals, pagodas, roads and bridges, ports and airports. Of that, the construction and rehabilitation of bridges and roads were given priorities, which reflected the Royal Government’s prioritized policies i.e. “Water, Road, Electricity, Education and Health”. These achievements aimed at transforming Cambodia into a country which is equipped with adequate and comprehensive infrastructure to ensure economic integration and improve the people’s livelihood. In this sense, I strongly believe that the soon-to-be-inaugurated Preah Monivong Bridge will help raise the people’s livelihood and accelerate poverty reduction, particularly for those people residing in Phnom Penh.
With a long-term vision of developing the country toward progress, I reckon that we must seek for new means and mobilize resources from all corners to develop Cambodia’s infrastructure with high quality, and durability to upgrade Cambodia’s image as a modern society like other developed countries. In the mean time, while modern and high-rise buildings are under construction in the country, particularly in Phnom Penh city, we should also consider about the balance between the construction of high-rise buildings, skyways, and their impact on the residence and traffic.
In this sense, I would like to appeal to competent agencies, particularly, the Council for Development of Cambodia and local authorities to mobilize all means and strategy to attract investment in infrastructure in compliance with regulations for applying in specific places such as along at the Mekong River, Basac river, Tonle Sap and other areas with high economic potential.
The new achievement which will be inaugurated will ease traffic jam and transportation, and the skyway which will be put under construction soon will also help address the above issues. Taking this opportunity, I would like to appeal to all residents living near the skyway’s construction site and local authorities at all level to well cooperate, a Khmer’s good culture, to facilitate the construction so that it can be carried out smoothly and timely as scheduled. On behalf of the Royal Government and myself, I would like to dedicate the “New Preah Monivong Bridege” as belong to all people living in Phnom Penh as well as all those living in the Cambodia. Enjoying and benefiting from the great heritage depend totally on the utmost efforts and determination with talent of all our people. Taking the chance, I would like to urge and ask all citizens to create and improve cooperation with high sense of responsibility and good tolerance in using the historically new achievement, by avoiding disputes stemming from its usage.
At the same time, I would like to request all people to take ownership and help to maintain this priceless achievement for the long-term, so that it can be used to upgrade the living standard and as a magnificent heritage for our next generation. In the mean time, I would like also to remind the authorities at all level to take pay attention and closely cooperate with one another, especially to facilitate by all means to people to get maximum benefit from this invaluable new achievement
Last but not least, I would like to request to the company and experts who are in charge of constructing this skyway to pay great attention and constantly monitor to ensure that this would be the first skyway with high quality, in compliance with construction regulations and for long-lasting use.
Finally, with the overcrowded and joyful occasion of The Inauguration of the New Preah Monivong Bridge and the Opening of the new Skyway’s Construction Site, I would like to wish Your Venerable Monks, Excellency, Ladies and gentlemen and all compatriots 4 Gems of Buddhist Blessings.
