PHNOM PENH – Cambodia needs to restore Preah Sihanouk’s crime-tarnished image in order to lure investors back, an observer says.

Preah Sihanouk Province was established in 2021 as a multi-purpose SEZ, allowing for more flexible development initiatives and investment incentives.

In the same year, China’s Urban Planning Design Institute of Shenzhen signed an agreement with the Ministry of Economy and Finance to provide a master plan service for the development.

The province, with a deep-sea port and potential for economic development, aims to attract more business investment post-COVID-19 to accelerate sustainable growth in industry, agriculture and services.

However, the province’s image has been distorted by news about cyber scams and slavery while a high-grossing Chinese-made movie “No More Bets” with a plot that includes Cambodian involvement in human trafficking and online crime went viral last year, hurting the country’s reputation and prompting complaints from the Cambodian government.

CENTRAL executive director Moeun Tola said online scamming was still a significant issue and must be tackled to restore the province’s image.

“If we want to tackle online scamming, which hinders the tourism sector, I’m sure the government has enough capacity to do it,” he said. “Dealing with this problem effectively can boost Preah Sihanouk province as it already has been developed nonstop.”

Tola added that, based on his visit to the province, Chinese nationals are mostly deemed to cause trouble such as trafficking, shooting, forced labor or violating traffic laws, which are feared by many locals.

“We should exert control over Chinese nationals or other nationals who cause disorder upon their arrival,” he said

Government spokesperson Pen Bona acknowledged that a lot had been happening in the province, as Sihanoukville was constantly developing; however, the problem was not as big as suggested in the news.

He cited news reports that about 100,000 people in Cambodia were forced to work in online scam centers but said the allegation was not evidence-based, asking who counted the numbers and where the victims were, of which none was given.

“The information is so damaging that action must be taken to prevent it, as Sihanoukville is a province with significant sea potential and an international deep-sea port,” Bona said.

Effort Has Been Made: Information Ministry

Information Ministry spokesman Tep Asnarith said the ministry has collaborated with other ministries and ASEAN member states to promote the province through fun activities, creating a documentary showing tourism potential and the investment environment.

The movie “No More Bets,” he said, shows that Cambodia is also a victim suffering from human trafficking and online scams.

“We have broadcasting partners in 15 countries in Asia, Europe, and America through Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), which shares information about the province’s tourism and investment potential in Khmer, English, French, and Arabic,” said Asnarith.

“AKP also cooperates with the embassies where AKP gives footage to the embassies for publication.”

He said the Tourism and Trade Fair in March in Sihanoukville aimed to boost growth, attract tourists, promote investment, create new tourism products, promote Khmer cultural values, and strengthen cooperation in coastal provinces.

Provincial Deputy Governor Long Dimanche couldn’t be reached for comment at the time of publication.

Pen Bona said Cambodia is plagued by cross-border cyber fraudsters who use countries in the region as bases. This issue requires international cooperation, not blame for Cambodia alone. Cambodian authorities strive to file complaints or receive immediate action, he said.

He believed that with its abundant potential of the province, its transformation wouldn’t take long when stakeholders and others refrain from sharing fake news and instead share positive news about the province and country while being mindful of negative news.

“What we notice is that there are some media outlets that tend to hate China, leading to the attack on China and the Cambodian government,” Bona said.

“But we believe that Preah Sihanouk province will become a big investment center in the future because it is a province with all kinds of gifts.”