China Eximbank provides $108.8 million preferential buyer’s credit for the Kratie-Kampong Thom Mekong River Bridge Project

Project narrative

On April 25, 2018, Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, announced the future construction of a bridge crossing the Mekong River in Kratie northeastern province. Then, in mid-2019, the Chinese Government pledged to provide a concessional loan to the Government Cambodia for the construction of Kratie-Kampong Thom Mekong River Bridge. As of June 24, 2021, the project was still awaiting Prime Minister Hun Sen's approval. Then, on November 9, 2022, China Eximbank and the Government of Cambodia signed a $108,879,500 preferential buyer’s credit (PBC) agreement for the Kratie-Kampong Thom Mekong River Bridge Project. The PBC (loan) carries the following borrowing terms: a 2% interest rate, a 20-year maturity, and a 7-year grace period. The purpose of the project is to construct a bridge crossing the Mekong River linking Kratie to Kampong Thom province. The bridge is expected to stretch for 1,761 meters and connect Bos Leav commune’s Talus village on the east side of the river with Thma Reab village to the west. The bridge is expected to connect to National Road (NR) 6, NR71B, NR7 and NR73. It is also expected to ease the travel of people in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces to Kampong Thom province — and vice versa. Shanghai Construction Group (SCG) is the contractor responsible for project implementation. Its work is supervised by Guangzhou Wanan Construction Supervision Co Ltd. A groundbreaking ceremony took place on January 2, 2023. The project's construction period was originally expected to last three years.