The Ministry of Public Works and Transport on Wednesday launched its third “Automation System for Vehicle Ownership Transfer” centre on the third floor of the Chip Mong Noro Mall on Preah Norodom Boulevard in Phnom Penh. The ministry’s director of information technology and public relations Heang Sotheayuth said the system will expedite vehicle transfer services more transparently and efficiently. “The new vehicle transfer automation system is a joint project between my ministry and the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s General Department of Taxation. It allows people to apply for vehicle transfer and pay tax at the same time. “This can be done via the website – vehicle.mpwt.gov.kh – or at a service location,” Sotheayuth said. General Department of Taxation deputy director-general Ken Sambath said the system provides the opportunity for both institutions to exchange information to manage data on all vehicle owners. “I hope and believe the public service centre today will minimise the difficulty by restoring trust with the public. It will save time and reduce complications. “Participation in this new system will be an important catalyst for updating information, strengthening the culture of paying taxes and contributing to the development of the nation through tax payments to the State,” Sambath said. Senior Minister and Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol said the system will facilitate the management of all types of vehicles in Cambodia and provide legal ownership to vehicle owners and contribute to fraud prevention. “People will find it easier to get service that is transparent, effective and accountable,” Chanthol said. The new service centre is the third of its kind and provides vehicle registration, driver’s licences and vehicle transfer services. The first centre is located at AEON1 Mall and the second centre at AEON2 Mall. They are open to the public every day from 9am to 9pm. According to data from the transportation sector presented at the event by General Department of Road Transport director-general Chhuon Vorn, the total number of registered vehicles in the country from 1990 to August is 5.8 million vehicles, of which there are 4.8 million motorcycles, 595,640 light vehicles and 257,614 heavy vehicles. In the first eight months of the year, vehicle ownership transfers increased 205.3 per cent compared to the same period last year.