HAGL AGRICO hands over Nong Khang Airport

On May 15, 2023 in Houaphan province (Laos), Hoang Anh Gia Lai Agriculture JSC (HAGL Agrico) signed to hand over Nong Khang Airport. Attending the ceremony were Laos' Minister of Public Works and Transport Ngarmpasong Meungmany, Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong, Vice Chairman of Vietnam - Laos Cooperation Committee, Governor of Houaphan Province Vanxay Phengsoumma and other agencies from the two countries.

Nong Khang Airport has been built under a (BT) Build - Transfer contract, in which the Laos Ministry of Public Works and Transport acts as the investor, represented by Laos Civil Aviation Administration, Hoang Anh Attapeu Agriculture as the contractor, Airport Design and Construction Consultancy as the design consultancy who supervises the construction in line with the 3C standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The total cost of the project is $82 million, which was lent by Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group (HAGL) to the Laos Government, represented by the Laos Ministry of Finance. In December 2019, the project changed the lender from HAGL Group to HAGL Agriculture JSC (HAGL Agrico).

In 2021, THACO took over HAGL Agrico, therefore also taking in the Nong Khang Airport project in which the former has been accelerating the construction to get ready for the handover.

Nong Khang Airport plays a strategic role in the economic development of Houaphan province in particular and the North-Eastern region of Laos in general, in which it can quickly connect the region to Vientiane Capital and other provinces or cities in Laos. In addition, the airport is also located in the economic trade gateway between Laos and Vietnam, thus becoming an important factor to promote imports and exports between the two countries. Once operational, the airport not only helps develop tourism and economy for Houaphan province but also is a symbol of the sustainable friendly cooperation between the two neighboring countries Vietnam and Laos.

Understanding its importance, THACO and HAGL Agrico have put up professional and highly skilled project teams who have been side by side with relevant units from design, construction supervision and acceptance to ensure the quality, safety and aesthetics. Once completed, Nong Khang Airport expects to serve 100,000 passengers per year.