Techo Takhmao International Airport

The entire project is expected to cost around $1.5 billion, while the vast majority ($1.1 billion) was supposed to have been acquired from the China Development Bank. However an agreement signed in 2018 when the airport was announced was revoked. In order to compensate, the Cambodia Airport Investment Co., Ltd (CAIC) began issuing bonds in November 2021. This was subscribed mostly by local Cambodian insurance companies and banks, allowing the CAIC to raise $300 million, which is then invested by the OCIC. The Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation (OCIC) has since stated that all of the $500 million budget originates entirely from Cambodia. The airport's design is being carried out by the British company Foster & Partners while construction is being undertakened by Chinese companies; with the China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group Co., Ltd building the terminals; and the Shanghai Baoye Group - a subsidiary of Metallurgical Corporation of China - is constructing the runways, taxiways, aprons and related facilities.[9]

A new airport for Phnom Penh was first hinted in 2016 once further expansion plans for the existing Phnom Penh airport ended. The project was then officially announced in January 2018, with construction beginning in 2019.[10] The $1.5 billion project is being invested by the CAIC, whilst the China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group Co., Ltd is constructing the airport. The construction is taking place on 2,600 hectares of land in Kandal and Takeo provinces.[10] Hun Sen announced the name for the airport on 9 December 2021 whilst inspecting the new airport.[10]

By December 2021, the phase 1 was 27% complete and was thought to be complete by 2023.[8] However, on March 30, 2023, the Deputy Governor of Kandal Province, Nou Peng Chandara, stated that the airport was now 44% complete during a press conference.[10] On 30 June 2023, the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation announced that more than half of construction on phase 1 was completed.[5] The first phase is expected to be completed by mid-2024, with the airport being built in 3 stages.[11] Both phase 1 and 2 are under construction.

On 8 June 2023, local residents from four communes in Kandal province around the airport protested against the filling of land near their homes and Canal 94. The residents feared that the companies constructing Techo Takhmao would demolish their homes. Chiv Kok Say, who is in-charge with land acquisitions, said the homes they were filling in were vacant after their owners were paid $2,000. Chiv also said that the developments there was to prevent future flooding of the airport. To prevent the residents from intervening, the company brought in security and fire trucks, which they used to spray water at the villagers who were armed with sticks and stones.[12]

Each of the three phases of construction will include a 4 kilometer runway capable of handling large long-haul aircraft.[9]