Banteay Meanchey (FN), Nov. 29 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet announced that the government will rebuild Boeung Chhouk Market in Battambang City, Battambang Province, for vendors after the market was damaged by a fire on 3 November 2024. Nearly 150 stalls were destroyed in the blaze.
The premier spoke on Friday (Nov. 29) at the inauguration of new achievements in Boeng Chungrok Techo Win-Win development zone in Banteay Meanchey Province.
Boeung Chhouk Market has been privately owned and operated for more than 30 years, since 1992. Following the fire, the private sector that managed the market was unable to afford the cost of rebuilding. As a result, Samdech Thipadei decided to take over the market as a state-owned facility and announced the reconstruction in response to requests from vendors affected by the fire. This move will provide the vendors with a new location for their businesses.
With the announcement of the market's reconstruction, Samdech Thipadei also underlined that vendors who rented stalls from the original owner, both on the ground floor and in the small market behind, will have the right to occupy new stalls once the market is rebuilt. Additionally, 25 sub-tenants on the first floor will each be offered one stall in the back market.
Separately, sub-tenants on the ground floor who were not affected by the fire, as well as those in the market behind the Battambang Provincial Administration, will be consulted and provided with assistance as much as possible. Samdech Thipadei will make further recommendations regarding their situation.
At the same time, Samdech Thipadei recommended that the new Boeung Chhouk Market should maintain the original structure in terms of the number and size of the stalls, after experts from the Ministry of Land conduct a study.
The premier added that construction of the new market could take up to four months. In the meantime, vendors whose stalls were destroyed will be relocated to temporary sales spaces, while traders whose stalls were unaffected by the fire can continue their business as usual.
This announcement has been welcomed with enthusiasm by the business community, who expressed their gratitude to Samdech Thipadei for rebuilding the market.
=FRESH NEWS
