HCMC – An Giang Province’s government on Thursday called for local and international investors to join its airport project in the public-private partnership (PPP) format.

This was one of 11 projects the provincial Department of Planning and Investment introduced at a seminar with Swedish investors in HCMC on Thursday.

Local authorities are conducting a feasibly study for the project, which covers 230 hectares in Can Dang commune in Chau Thanh District with total investment of around US$233 million. The breakeven period is expected within 27 years.

According to local authorities, An Giang has three international border gates with tourism, seafood and farm produce exports developing strongly. Therefore, the transport system of the province needs to be further improved.

Construction of An Giang Airport is necessary to raise transport capacity of the province and the region.

In 2011, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) announced the  airport planning for the period until 2020 and vision to 2030.

The project will need over VND3.4 trillion of investment. Of which, the capital needed for the period until 2020 is over VND1.48 trillion and the next phase will need nearly VND1.94 trillion, according to the Decision 1166/QD-BGTVT of the Transport Ministry on project approval.

By 2020, the airport will have a runway 1,850 meters long and 45 meters wide designed to serve ATR72 aircraft or equivalent planes. CAAV said that the airport in the first phase will serve chartered flights, search and rescue activities and national defense.

After 2020, the terminal and runways will be upgraded to support landings and take-offs of Airbus A321 aircraft. The airport will have designed capacity of receiving 300 passengers an hour during high season and transporting 300 tons of cargo per year.

Local authorities at the seminar also introduced other projects in the fields of energy and environment. These included a waste treatment plant in Phu Tan District with total investment of US$11 million, another waste treatment plant in Long Xuyen City costing US$27 million and a drainage and wastewater treatment project in Tan Chau commune worth US$26 million.

The province also called for investment in Tay Song Hau urban area project covering 65 hectares with total capital estimated at around VND420 billion.

Do Hai Long, deputy director of the Department of Planning and Investment, pledged that local authorities will create favorable conditions and a healthy business environment for investors