CaliforniaGuy wrote:... Infrastructure, port facilities, roads, real education, are all lagging, though finally some highways are slowly being rebuilt...

This is the second or third time I've heard this recently, and it's simply not true. There is no 'finally 'or 'slowly' to it. Infrastructure was really one of the first things to be addressed, even while the war was still on (I recall the frustration of construction crews on NR4 in the 90s as they would fix the road during day only to have the KR blow great holes in it at night.) Roads and port facilities have seen tremendous improvement over the last 15 years. The national highway system alone has been completely rebuilt as well as much of the secondary system. Port facilities such as at Sihanoukville is almost unrecognizable it has been so expanded and improved. Of all the issues, Cambodians in Cambodia (not the ones overseas who really don't have a clue about modern Cambodia) consistently cite infrastructure improvement as the thing they are most satisfied with the government's work. If anything, infrastructure improvement has received too much attention from the government. What is really lagging IMO is the improvent in people services, ie the medical system and education are both in a shameful state and have seen almost no improvement since the war ended in 98-99. Corruption and the related land grabbing and illegal logging are other issues that that have gone largely unaddressed.

As for all the new buildings in Phnom Penh, KIR once said to me that Phnom Penh was working on becoming the next Bangkok, full of half built new buildings, failed projects and traffic jams. And I think he may be right about that.

Passed five separate accidents (that we saw) - most with obvious fatalities - on hell highway between SHV and PP on NYD. Our Khmer friends were getting calls from other friends about other deaths on the same road. While every one of them had a high degree of idiot factor, I'm pretty confident the road - infrastructure - was also a contributor. What a disgrace. All those containers on trucks because the okhnas can't work out how to corrupt the rail link between them.

StroppyChops wrote:...While every one of them had a high degree of idiot factor, I'm pretty confident the road - infrastructure - was also a contributor. What a disgrace. All those containers on trucks because the okhnas can't work out how to corrupt the rail link between them.

I agree. Inrastructure improvement is a major contributing factor. It was much safer on the roads when they were all broken and dirt. Unlike before, the national highways are now excellent condition (except for a couple that are being rebuilt yet again to make them even bigger), smooth and very fast, allowing the idiots full rein to apply their idiocy and kill one another en masse. What's lacking there is traffic law, common sense and law enforcement.

LTO wrote:What's lacking there is traffic law, common sense and law enforcement.

Preach it, brother.

LTO wrote:

CaliforniaGuy wrote:... Infrastructure, port facilities, roads, real education, are all lagging, though finally some highways are slowly being rebuilt...

This is the second or third time I've heard this recently, and it's simply not true. There is no 'finally 'or 'slowly' to it. Infrastructure was really one of the first things to be addressed, even while the war was still on (I recall the frustration of construction crews on NR4 in the 90s as they would fix the road during day only to have the KR blow great holes in it at night.) Roads and port facilities have seen tremendous improvement over the last 15 years. The national highway system alone has been completely rebuilt as well as much of the secondary system. Port facilities such as at Sihanoukville is almost unrecognizable it has been so expanded and improved. Of all the issues, Cambodians in Cambodia (not the ones overseas who really don't have a clue about modern Cambodia) consistently cite infrastructure improvement as the thing they are most satisfied with the government's work. If anything, infrastructure improvement has received too much attention from the government. What is really lagging IMO is the improvent in people services, ie the medical system and education are both in a shameful state and have seen almost no improvement since the war ended in 98-99. Corruption and the related land grabbing and illegal logging are other issues that that have gone largely unaddressed.

As for all the new buildings in Phnom Penh, KIR once said to me that Phnom Penh was working on becoming the next Bangkok, full of half built new buildings, failed projects and traffic jams. And I think he may be right about that.

Thanks for your thoughtful post. Maybe I am being too pessimistic, it does take time to build up a country from utter destruction, and I do see progress on the highways. Thanks for the info on the ports, didn't realize that. On the other hand as you point out the downtown area, "failed projects" and traffic jams. Maybe there are some plans on how to solve the traffic problems, I just am not aware of them. Obviously all of the new downtown building will require an vastly updated downtown street system, along with the supporting highways through and around the city. All of this along with a population educated on how to drive. Anyone have any information on what is planned in this area?

My other concern is the state of industry and export. There has been a lot of high-tech industries moving into neighboring Viet Nam over the past decade, partly to offset geopolitical concerns, but also because of rising labor rates in China. I remember maybe 8 years or so ago I attended a business conference in HCMC and had a chance to talk to the guy heading up the new billion dollar Intel manufacturing plant there. Clearly they saw that country as a future hub of technological industry, and the Vietnamese government officials were there too, making it clear they were in it for the long haul. I don't see any of that in Cambodia. Hopefully someone can point out where I am wrong.

china has run away from Vn since the riots a few months ago, and resettling around pochentong and other places.

the infrastructure all over the english speaking world is also crumbling, in particular commonwealth countries but USA as well.

look at USA national highways even after all the stimulus package work.

the built environment is ancient compared to the post war boom times.

frank lee bent wrote:look at USA national highways even after all the stimulus package work.

I hear that a lot, but where I am now residing, roads and bridges are in great shape, some new ones being built and the old, vital ones being expanded/widened with new lanes. Construction everywhere and good progress. I am in the construction management/engineering business and I am swamped with work. And in the Dakotas, a construction boom like you wouldn't believe due to the oil shale boom. Amazing wages being offered up there. Good stuff.

good- that certainly helps the common wealth.

Soi Dog wrote:

frank lee bent wrote:look at USA national highways even after all the stimulus package work.

I hear that a lot, but where I am now residing, roads and bridges are in great shape, some new ones being built and the old, vital ones being expanded/widened with new lanes. Construction everywhere and good progress. I am in the construction management/engineering business and I am swamped with work. And in the Dakotas, a construction boom like you wouldn't believe due to the oil shale boom. Amazing wages being offered up there. Good stuff.

Detroit (poor all over) roads were awful.
Phoenix (very wealthy suburbs) roads get a dimple in them and they are fixing it the next day. How are the roads in poor vs rich districts where you are from?

USA has amazing roads.

Soi Dog wrote:

frank lee bent wrote:look at USA national highways even after all the stimulus package work.

I hear that a lot, but where I am now residing, roads and bridges are in great shape, some new ones being built and the old, vital ones being expanded/widened with new lanes. Construction everywhere and good progress. I am in the construction management/engineering business and I am swamped with work. And in the Dakotas, a construction boom like you wouldn't believe due to the oil shale boom. Amazing wages being offered up there. Good stuff.

What about that $700 per month home renting out for $2500 per month around one of those Dakota oil towns? No one talks about that. Also, it's the Dakotas.