Phnom Penh — The developer behind the newly inaugurated Techo International Airport (TIA) is immediately expanding the project’s scope, announcing a $100 million waterway and the development of a large Airport Satellite City designed to transform the area into Cambodia’s premier multi-modal transportation and economic hub.
The announcement was made by Lok Neak Oknha Pung Kheav Se, Chairman of Cambodia Airport Investment Corporation (CAIC), a subsidiary of the Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation (OCIC), during the official inauguration ceremony this morning, which was presided over by Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet.
Multi-Modal Hub via New Waterway
OCIC plans to construct a 10-kilometre waterway with a total investment of US$100 million. This new channel will connect the nearby Boeung Cheung Loung Lake to the Bassac River and the Funan Techo Canal. This strategic link will provide seamless connectivity all the way to Kep city, Cambodia’s coastal province.
Mr. Pung Kheav Se emphasized that this waterway will give TIA a crucial competitive advantage by establishing it as a true multi-modal hub accessible by air, land, and sea.
Development of the Airport Satellite City
Beyond infrastructure, OCIC has begun the large-scale development of the Airport Satellite City to support the airport’s operations and staff. The master plan for this new city includes several key components:
- Affordable Housing: Dedicated residential construction for the thousands of TIA staff and workers who are relocating from areas near the old Phnom Penh International Airport.
- Commercial Zones: Residential and commercial areas, factories, and warehouses.
- Economic Drivers: An international exhibition centre and a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) aimed at promoting production and exports directly through the new TIA gateway.
To enhance the cultural environment, OCIC is also developing a cultural park on the landside of the airport to promote Khmer traditions to visitors.
Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet expressed his full support for these ambitious projects, noting that they will further boost local development and create significantly more job opportunities for the Cambodian people.
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