On the morning of 17 August 2026, a delegation from the Council for the Development of Cambodia, together with representatives of national ministries and the Svay Rieng provincial and Bavet city governments, visited the Manhattan Twin Star SEZ (MSEZ 2.0) project site for working meetings and an on-site inspection. The visit was chaired by H.E. Heng Soknang, Deputy Secretary General of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, with Mr. Men Chanra, Mayor of Bavet, in attendance. Around 40 people took part.
Working Meeting and Site Walk-Through in the Same Visit
The visit combined a working session with a walk-through of the site. The delegation first met to discuss investment, construction and the next stages of the project, then moved to the project location to inspect conditions on the ground.
Representatives from the relevant ministries, the Svay Rieng provincial government, Bavet city and the Bati district took part. The scale of the delegation reflects the level of attention the project is receiving from Cambodian authorities, and sets up the coordination needed for the next phase of planning and construction.
Thirteen Ministries in One Room: Why That Matters to Investors
According to the official attendance list, the delegation covered the Office of the Council of Ministers; the ministries of Economy and Finance; Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction; Commerce; Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation; Environment; Labour and Vocational Training; Public Works and Transport; Planning; Mines and Energy; Water Resources and Meteorology; the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; and the General Department of Customs and Excise — thirteen ministry-level bodies in total.
Why that combination matters: taking an SEZ project from plan to production means clearing investment approval, land and construction permits, environmental assessment, labour recruitment, power and water supply, and bonded customs arrangements. Those sit with different agencies, and they are exactly where manufacturers most often report losing time.
Having the relevant bodies engage in one session lays groundwork for smoother coordination later. For companies comparing manufacturing locations in the region, how administratively coordinated a zone’s host jurisdiction is belongs on the evaluation list alongside land pricing and labour cost.
New Ground for the Next Phase: What MSEZ 2.0 Is For
Manhattan Twin Star SEZ (MSEZ 2.0) is the next phase of development for Manhattan Special Economic Zone.
The project builds on the zone’s accumulated experience in park development, industrial services and operations management, extending available industrial land and raising the capacity of supporting facilities — with the aim of offering tenants a more complete and more sustainable operating environment.
Planning boards on site show that alongside standard factory buildings and residential amenities, the layout includes technical and vocational education facilities (TVET School) — pointing toward workforce development within the zone itself, which is a recurring concern for manufacturers assessing labour supply in the region.
What Happens Next
Manhattan Special Economic Zone will continue to advance MSEZ 2.0 planning and construction under the guidance of Cambodian authorities and in accordance with regulation, while strengthening coordination with the relevant agencies and continuing to build out infrastructure and support services.
The stated goal is an industrial park with clustered industry, complete supporting facilities and sustainable operations — contributing to economic development in Bavet, Svay Rieng and Cambodia more broadly.
New ground, new capacity, new momentum. Manhattan Twin Star SEZ is moving forward.
