Work began yesterday on a $1.5bn port and logistics centre in the southwest of Cambodia. The 600ha scheme in Kampot province is being undertaken by a joint venture between the Shanghai Construction Group and the China Road and Bridge Corporation. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Bokor city, Chea Sophara, Cambodia’s planning and construction minister, said the project would give his country “a new international gateway” and would significantly boost economic growth. The multipurpose port is being developed by Cambodia’s Kampot Logistics and is privately funded. It will have a depth of 15m, allowing it to deal with ships up to the 5,100-container Panamax class. As well as a container terminal, there will be a special economic zone, a free trade area, a logistics hub, an oil refinery and a dock for cruise ships. Work on the scheme is divided into three phases over 15 years. The first phase will be complete in 2025 and is expected to cost $200m. This will give the port a modest capacity of 300,000 20ft-equivalent units in 2025, rising to 600,000 in 2030. According to Sophara, it will be the third largest port in Cambodia after Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh.