![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capitalcambodia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/3-Chin-Hok.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDiamond Island Development City, one of the major development site in Phnom Penh is set to transform into a smart city in three to five years.<\/p>\n
Located along Tonle Bassac River in Phnom Penh, Diamond Island, popularly known as Koh Pich, measures more than 100 hectares. In 2006, Khmer-Canadian-owned Overseas Cambodian Investment Corp signed an agreement with the Cambodian government to develop and manage the island, previously known \u201cKoh Klong\u201d.<\/p>\n
Today, the city has become the \u201cdiamond of Phnom Penh\u201d, dominated by construction projects.<\/p>\n
With panoramic views of the city, Diamond Island Development City is home to high-end residential areas, entertainment, exhibition centres, commercial units, convention halls, and sports centres. It can house up to 30,000 people.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe envision the island becoming an economic and tourism hub in Asean in future. We are going to make it a smart city,\u201d says Chin Hok, chief executive officer of Diamond Island Development Co Ltd.<\/p>\n
Currently, the island\u2019s electricity poles are connected to a wireless network and controlled by a computer system. The company is studying ways to fit the island with CCTVs, and smart water and electricity meters.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are encouraging developers to build green and smart buildings. On our part, we have yet to build smart buildings as we are involved in public infrastructure works. Some projects in Koh Pich were developed by our partners, so the design and building depends on the developers,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n
There are more than 20 projects including ongoing ones. Big construction projects comprise Elite Town, La Seine, Canadian International School (CIS), The Elysee, and Morgan Tower, D.I Riviera Condo, CASA Meridian Residence, and Diamond Twin Tower.<\/p>\n
Hok says that OCIC alone invested in some 10 projects in Diamond Island city, adding that each project costs around $60 million to $70 million, bringing the total development cost to more than $2 billion including infrastructure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have completed some 10 projects. The height of each building depends on the location. Those along the river can rise between 40 storeys and 60 storeys high,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n
Safety-wise, OCIC has a strict policy on buildings which requires architects, engineers and designers to comply with international standards and regulations.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur engineers are trained in China, Japan and Singapore. We believe that the infrastructure can support improvements in the future. We ensure that there would be no traffic congestions although we face some issues during holidays or during celebrations outside the island,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n
In terms of the sanitisation, Diamond Island has its own sewage system and sewage treatment plant to treat the water before it is released into the river.<\/p>\n
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There are more than 5,000 residents living on the island where some 10 percent of 100 hectares is freehold. Residents are made up of Cambodians and foreigners including Canadians, Australians, and Chinese.<\/p>\n
With the presence of the big development projects, Koh Pich contributes to the economy. It employs more than 2,000 workers at project sites.<\/p>\n
Secretary of state for Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Ministry, Lao Tipseiha says that the growth in real estate has been remarkable due to political and social stability, economic growth and foreign investment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe social and political stability, and firm economic growth over the years have improved people\u2019s living standards, and made the construction and property sectors attractive. They also play an important role in job creation,\u201d Tipseiha adds.<\/p>\n
As a result of its location, Koh Pich property prices have surged. The city targets high-end users. Property prices grow between 20 percent and 30 percent annually.<\/p>\n
\u201cLand prices start from $5,000 per square metre while condominiums are sold at $2,000 per square metre to more than $3,000 per square metre. Flat units are priced from $700,000. If we talk about price, it is increasing but the growth is not more than other areas,\u201d Hok says.<\/p>\n
Last year, flat units were priced at $500,000 but this year it rose to $700,000. In contrast, similar units went up from $100,000 to $300,000. The price of Elite Town III climbed to $700,000 from $490,000 in two years which is an approximate 20 percent to 30 percent year-on-year growth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope that in three to five years, Koh Pich development would be completed. About 80 percent of the development has been completed in the last 13 years. We are working with Japan and China to develop the island into a smart city,\u201d Hok says.<\/p>\n
According to Tipseiha\u2019s ministry, from 2003 up to April this year, Cambodia has registered 257 satellite cities, and Borey projects.<\/p>\n
On top of that, more than $2.7 billion worth of real estate projects were approved during the first four months of the year, which is an increase of 67.3 percent, a report by the ministry states.<\/p>\n
The reports adds that between January and April this year, 1,420 projects were approved, up from 1,171 projects approved in the corresponding period last year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Diamond Island Development City, one of the major development site in Phnom Penh is set to transform into a smart city in three to five years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2301,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"High-rise constructions fill the skyline in Koh Pich \r\nCC\/Pann Rachana","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":null,"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":null,"footnotes":""},"categories":[257],"tags":[559,25,531],"yoast_head":"\n