Phnom Penh (FN), June 6 – Minister in Charge of Civil Aviation Mao Havannall urged France’s Vinci, a company overseeing airports in Cambodia to finish expanding airport runways in Sihanoukville by 2022 for Boeing 777 to land, speaking in a meeting with Vinci CEO Eric Delobel on Thursday.

“As recommended by the premier, to welcome private jets of world and regional leaders to meetings and to promote the kingdom’s tourism, we urge the Cambodia Airports to finish expanding Sihanoukville airport’s runway to 3.3km by 2022 for Boeing 777 to land,” Mao Havannall stated.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced to construct an international conference center in coastal province Sihanoukville to host ASEAN Summit and related meetings in late 2022, speaking Friday at the groundbreaking ceremony of Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, which he co-chaired, with Chinese vice-minister of foreign affairs Kong Xuanyou in Kompong Speu province in March 2019.

Prime Minister also reiterated the needs for new airports in response to growth of local and international tourists. He said that the number of tourists visiting Cambodia has increased substantially over years, expected 12 million tourists by 2025, and thus requires innovations of airports in Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, and Siem Reap.

A new Siem Reap airport will be built on 1,700 hectares of land in Sot Nikum district with a capital investment of $900 million with a 55-year contract under Angkor Air International Investment Co., Ltd.

The Premier also planned to build an airport in between Mondulkiri and Ratanakkiri provinces, northeast of Cambodia, which is potential for tourism and agriculture sectors.
=FRESH NEWS