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Address at the “Inauguration of
the New Preah Monivong Bridge and the Opening of the Construction Site of a new
Skyway”
Phnom Penh, 27th May,
2009
- 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.
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