A ray of light for Cambodia’s ‘Gold Rush’ city
In the 4th of a 7-part BT-Lianhe Zaobao series on China and Asean, we look at the role of Chinese investors in the rise, fall, and recovery of Cambodia’s Sihanoukville province.
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CAMBODIA’S Sihanoukville province is a key strategic location in China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Its Special Economic Zone (SEZ), run jointly by China and Cambodia, has attracted 170 international enterprises and reported a trade volume of US$2.234 billion last year.
The SEZ has transformed Sihanoukville into a hub for textiles, leather goods and construction materials – but also turned the city into casino central.
After a 2019 ban on online and arcade gambling, followed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Chinese capital withdrew from the city. With the former hustle and bustle now a distant memory, is Sihanoukville – once known as the “Gold Rush” city – losing its shine?
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