Representatives from the Australian, British, Canadian, French, Indian and Japanese embassies visited the Techo International Airport (TIA) project site at the end of last week.
This visit - which enabled guests to discover an ambitious infrastructure - testifies to the collaborative efforts and support of the embassies, as well as their interest in the development of infrastructure in Cambodia and the consolidation of bilateral relations.
Techo International Airport is a new airport infrastructure with a total surface area of 2,600 hectares, located 19 kilometres from Phnom Penh. Driving time is approximately 30 to 40 minutes, via the new Monivong-Hun Sen Boulevard flyover. It is classified as a 4F airport and is being built in three phases. The investment budget for the first phase is USD 1.5 billion, excluding land.
Around 17,000 employees and workers are currently working on the project and construction is 72.3% complete, with a total investment to date of USD 1,052 million, of which USD 340.5 million has been raised through the issue of airport bonds to local financial institutions, companies and individuals. TIA is scheduled to open in early 2025.
During the tour of the new terminal and control tower, embassy representatives expressed admiration for the meticulous planning and green infrastructure built into the airport's design.
The TIA was designed by British architects Foster + Partners, who incorporated green infrastructure into the design, while the owner, Cambodia Airport Investment Co (CAIC), is working to reduce carbon emissions and improve environmental sustainability in the country.
Examples of green infrastructure include the use of canopies in the design of the terminal roof to allow the use of natural light and the installation and use of solar energy.
During the visit, representatives of the respective embassies held constructive discussions with CAIC project stakeholders Heerim Architects and Planners (project management consultant), Changi Airport International (consultant for the commercial planning and pre-operations phase, including airfield certification and ORAT), Foster + Partners (architects), China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Co, Ltd (main contractor for the terminal building). They also praised the dedication and expertise of the teams involved in the project.
In her speech, Ms Lim Lina, Vice-President of the Canadia Group, highlighted the number of suppliers and contractors from the respective countries of the six embassies with which the TIA has engaged for the construction of the project, worth a total of 133 million US dollars. She also said that the CAIC was looking forward to continuing its collaboration and welcoming investors from the respective countries for this major project and the Airport City Special Economic Zone, as the TIA prepares to welcome travellers from around the world in 2025.
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