Japan’s Deputy Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Yakabe Yoshinori worked with the People’s Committee of southern Dong Nai province on February 14 to plan the funding and construction of the planned Long Thanh International Airport.

According to the diplomat, the Japanese government is considering ODA provision for the project upon the consulate’s request.

While there have been some concerns from Japan about local opposition to the building of the airport, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Van Vinh has argued that the government considers building Long Thanh Airport a better option than expanding Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC or Bien Hoa Airport in Dong Nai.

The airport, covering an area of 5,000ha, will include four runways.

In the first phase, it is expected to receive 5 million passengers and 5 million tonnes of cargo a year.

Once completed, Long Thanh will be able to accommodate A380 aircraft, the largest operating in Vietnam.

Yoshinori said that recommendations coming out from the working session will be sent to the Japanese Foreign Ministry so that an ODA request for the project can be processed at the earliest time possible.

Construction of the project is expected to commence in early 2016.

Source: VNA