Work starts on Vietnam-Cambodia joint hospital

Construction work was started on May 15 for the Cho Ray – Phnom Penh multiclinic hospital, a joint project between Vietnam ’s Saigon Medical Investment Joint Stock company and Sokimex company of Cambodia.

The US$42 million hospital covers an area of 50,000 sq.m in Meanchey district, around ten km from Phnom Penh . It has two five-storey buildings with 500 beds.

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony, Vietnam ’s Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong said the project is new, vivid evidence of the good neighbourly ties and time-honoured friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia.

After coming into operation, the hospital will help improve health care services for Phnom Penh city dwellers in particular and Cambodian people in general, Trong added.

The hospital is expected to be complete in the next two years and create employment for more than 300 people.

Cambodian PM Hun Sen also praised the project and the cooperation of the Vietnamese government and Ho Chi Minh authorities to realise the project.

The hospital not only helps Cambodian people save money and time that they would have had to spend on treatment abroad, but also create an opportunity for local doctors to work with doctors of Cho Ray hospital in Ho Chi Minh city, thereby improving their professional skills, he added.

Earlier on May 14, the Vietnamese-invested Bank of Investment and Development of Cambodia (BIDC) handed over a floating school on Bien Ho lake to overseas Vietnamese living in Chhnok Trou commune, Boribo district of Kong Pong Ch’nang province.

Cambodian Deputy PM Men Sam On praised the Vietnamese community in Bien Ho area for their contribution to the local economuc development as well as to the preservation and enhancement of the Cambodia-Vietnam friendship.

The BIDC is owned by a Phnom Penh-based affiliate of the Bank of Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV), the Investment and Development of Cambodia Company (IDCC). (VNA)