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A delegation led by the Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works (Works), Mr Lo Yiu-Ching, visited Phnom Penh, Cambodia today (June 16) to foster closer links among the construction and business sectors in Cambodia, Mainland China and Hong Kong.
In the morning, Mr Lo and the delegation visited Diamond Island to see the development projects there.
They then met the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mr Sun Chanthol, to exchange views on the infrastructure development in Cambodia, Mainland and Hong Kong. They also discussed the business opportunities for the construction trade of the three places.
The delegation later visited the Senior Minister of Commerce, Mr Cham Prasidh, to get first-hand information about the economic developments in Cambodia.
Speaking at a dinner reception which was attended by local VIPs, Mr Lo pointed out that the rich natural resources of the Greater Mekong Subregion had made it the new frontier of Asian economic growth, with the potential to become one of the world's fastest-growing areas.
"With the rapid growth of the economy in Cambodia, the high demand for infrastructure, communications, electricity generation, transportation and related facilities would bring tremendous opportunities for developers, contractors and consultants.
"The infrastructure sector would be one of the areas which we can strengthen collaboration among Cambodia, Mainland China and Hong Kong," Mr Lo said.
He believed that the visit to Phnom Penh, the first of its kind, would be a significant milestone forging ahead the long-term relationship in the cooperation of the construction industries among Cambodia, Mainland and Hong Kong.
In the Manila leg of their visit to the southeast Asia, members of the delegation have seen the infrastructure development there and met with top government officials.
The delegation, comprising 28 senior executives and professionals from 24 reputable construction-related enterprises and organisations from Hong Kong and Mainland China, will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (June 17) after a five-day study visit to the two countries.
The visit was jointly organised by the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau, and Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Singapore.
Ends/Friday, June 16, 2006
Issued at HKT 21:28
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