STORY: BRI-backed economic zone in Cambodia benefits local people's lives, economy
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 21, 2023
DATELINE: Nov. 24, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:54
LOCATION: Phnom Penh
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ)
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Khmer): EM SREYDA, Employee at the General Tire Technology (Cambodia)
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Khmer): SAY UDOM, Warehouse supervisor, Jiangxi 3L Medical Products factory
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Khmer): YEAK CHHIT, Quality control team leader, Jiangxi 3L Medical Products factory
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Khmer): KY KHENG, Beverage and grocery seller inside SSEZ
6. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): CHEN JIANGANG, Chairman of SSEZ

STORYLINE:

Located in southwest Cambodia, the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ) has helped improve local people's lives and contributed to the kingdom's economic growth.   

The SSEZ, a joint venture between Chinese and Cambodian companies, is a landmark project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The 11-square-km SSEZ currently houses 175 factories from China, Europe, the United States, Southeast Asia and other regions, generating some 30,000 local jobs.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Khmer): EM SREYDA, Employee at the General Tire Technology (Cambodia)
"This SSEZ is very important because foreign investors have set up factories in the zone, creating a lot of jobs for Cambodian people.
I would like to thank them for investing in Cambodia, generating jobs for Cambodian people. I want to see more inflows of foreign investment into Cambodia."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Khmer): SAY UDOM, Warehouse supervisor, Jiangxi 3L Medical Products factory
"Working with this factory, I have a decent salary, so I can support my family members and save some money to buy belongings I like, and recently I just bought a new motorcycle.
With this job, my living conditions have improved a lot because the factory has provided us with accommodation and food, so I can reduce a lot of daily expenses.
I think this special economic zone is really crucial for me and other Cambodian people because this zone has provided job opportunities with better salaries."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Khmer): YEAK CHHIT, Quality control team leader, Jiangxi 3L Medical Products factory
"The job has greatly improved my living conditions. Previously, when I was in school, I did not have money to buy things I like, but since I have worked here, I can afford whatever I need."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Khmer): KY KHENG, Beverage and grocery seller inside SSEZ
"I'm happy with the zone's development because sales here are much better than those of other places.
I thank Chinese investors for establishing the special economic zone here, which has created a lot of jobs for our people, and vendors in this area have also had higher sales than before."

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): CHEN JIANGANG, Chairman of SSEZ
"Currently, we have attracted a total of 175 companies, including both Chinese companies and companies from other countries. We have also provided 30,000 jobs to local people.
From January to October of this year, the total import and export value reached around 2.7 billion U.S. dollars, representing a growth of 33 percent compared to the same period last year.
The import and export value of SSEZ accounts for 7.13 percent of Cambodia's total trade turnover. This achievement is quite amazing."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Phnom Penh.
(XHTV)