Kandal Province, June 22, 2020 – Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, visited the construction site of the new Phnom Penh International Airport, located in Kandal Steung district, Kandal province.

The airport is being developed on approximately 2,600 hectares of land spanning Takhmao city, Kandal Steung district, and parts of Bati district in Takeo province. As of now, construction progress has reached about 30 percent. With a total investment of USD 1.5 billion, the project is funded through a combination of foreign loans (USD 1.1 billion), equity contributions from Cambodia Airport Investment Co., Ltd. (USD 280 million), and registered capital of USD 120 million from Oknha Pung Kheav Se, Chairman of OCIC. Completion is scheduled for 2023.

Once operational, the airport will be capable of handling around 13 million passengers annually by 2030, and up to 30 million passengers by 2050, making it one of the most significant infrastructure projects in Cambodia’s aviation sector.
 

Speaking during the inspection, Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his satisfaction with the construction progress and praised the project team for their efforts in addressing challenges to ensure smooth development. He stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic had not disrupted Cambodia’s infrastructure development, including this major airport, and emphasized that such projects provide essential employment opportunities for Cambodians affected by the economic downturn.
 

The Prime Minister also called on the developers to restore Boeung Cheung Loung Lake to a deeper level, both to serve the needs of local communities and to help mitigate flooding in the Prek Tnaot River area.

He further highlighted that Cambodia is currently building three international airports: this one in Kandal, another in Siem Reap, and the third in Koh Kong near Preah Sihanouk province. He urged the authorities of Phnom Penh, Kandal, and Takeo to closely coordinate with the developers to ensure smooth progress. Meanwhile, the existing Phnom Penh International Airport in Pochentong will remain in use, potentially serving military operations, domestic flights, cargo transport, and VIP or government delegations.

Before concluding, Samdech Techo Hun Sen wished the project team success in their work and personally toured key areas of the construction site in a warm and optimistic atmosphere.