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China News Service, Phnom Penh, August 11, Title: Cambodian people take the express train of the development of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone to a new life

China News Service reporter Yang Qiang

On the weekend evening, the breeze was blowing gently, bringing a little freshness. On the sidewalk near the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone Integrated Service Center Building, Cambodian employees who had finished their day's work sat on the ground in groups of three or four, leisurely starting their leisure time.

The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone was jointly developed and constructed by Chinese and Cambodian enterprises in Prey Noi District, Sihanoukville Province, Cambodia. In addition to the densely packed factories and the constant flow of commuters, the people who gather on the lawns to dine or play every evening have become another unique landscape here.

Young worker Ali and his girlfriend, who also works in a factory, often bring food to date in the lush green belt of the Special Economic Zone. He used to work in Thailand, but because it was too far from home, he returned to his hometown in Kampot Province to farm. It was not until he started working in a factory in the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone that Ali's life began to see light again.

Factory workers in the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone sit on the ground to rest and chat after get off work. (Photo provided by the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone)

"I now have a stable income every month and can slowly help my family improve their living conditions. Here, I bought my first motorcycle in my life and met my girlfriend. My family members are very happy for me." Ali and his girlfriend have been working in the Special Administrative Region for three years, and they plan to save money together to get married.

The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone is known as the "golden rice bowl" and "source of happiness" for the local people to get rich through hard work. It has currently introduced 190 enterprises (institutions) from China, Europe, the United States, Southeast Asia and other countries and regions, creating about 30,000 jobs. From January to July 2024, the total import and export volume of enterprises in the zone reached US$2.322 billion, a year-on-year increase of 21.8%.

Ou Chun lives in Simada Village near the Special Economic Zone and used to work as a nanny in Singapore. "In 2014, I entered the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone and Desheng Bags (Cambodia) Co., Ltd., starting as an ordinary worker. Now I am a workshop supervisor and can earn $1,200 a month." Ou Chun introduced her struggle and transformation process with a bright smile.

Ou Chun joined Hedesheng Bags (Cambodia) Co., Ltd. the year it went into production. With the continuous development of the company, she successfully changed her destiny. From a cutting team leader to a workshop translator, and now a supervisor of 210 workers in three workshops, Ou Chun has created a wonderful life for herself on the "big stage" of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone.

Female workers having a casual meal with their family and friends in the Special Administrative Region after get off work. (Photo provided by Sihanoukville Special Administrative Region)

Many years ago, Ouchun's family moved from other provinces to Sihanoukville and lived in a small wooden house with very simple facilities. With the money she earned from working in the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, she bought land and built a new house. Her family and thousands of other families around them are riding the express train of the Special Economic Zone's development and are on the road to prosperity, working hard to nurture new hopes for the future.

Driven by Ou Chun, her brother, sister, younger brother, nephew and niece have successively joined Hedesheng Luggage (Cambodia) Co., Ltd.

Ou Chun, who witnessed the development of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, also witnessed the earth-shaking changes that the development and construction of the Special Economic Zone brought to the local area. She said that many people here used to make a living by farming, but after the development and construction of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, everyone went to work in factories, and family conditions became better and better. Now basically every family has 2 to 3 motorcycles, and some even bought cars.

As one of the most dynamic emerging economies in Southeast Asia, Cambodia has attracted many foreign investors in recent years, and various special economic zones have sprung up and flourished. More and more local people have become part of the industrial workforce, and their lives are changing with each passing day. (End)