The Prime Minister’s Urgent Directive to Three Ministries: A Critical Timeline for the $16 Billion Mega-Project

Holding Accountable and Disciplining Officials for Delayed Work

On January 25, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the National Steering Committee for important national projects and key transport infrastructure projects, chaired a meeting on the progress of the Long Thanh International Airport project.

In his remarks, the Prime Minister emphasized the significance of the Long Thanh International Airport project as a crucial national project and the largest airport in the country. He stressed the need to expedite its development, stating that achieving double-digit growth in the coming years relies on smooth transportation.

Therefore, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and related agencies to conduct an inspection, clarify responsibilities, and discipline officials accountable for the delay in capital allocation for the headquarters building of the animal and plant quarantine station under Component 1 of the project.

While the Ministry of Transport has disciplined several officials, the Prime Minister directed them to further identify and immediately address higher-level officials responsible for the delays. He requested an urgent report on this matter.

At the beginning of the meeting, the ministries, agencies, investors, and contractors presented progress reports on the project components. Regarding Component 1, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has not allocated capital or completed the approval procedures for the investment policy of the animal and plant quarantine station headquarters.

For Component 3, the most critical component, the total output achieved to date reached 36%. However, the contract for the construction of the runway, taxiway, and aircraft parking area did not show a significant increase in construction volume compared to the previous reporting period. Additionally, the construction of Runway 2 has not commenced despite receiving approval from the National Assembly.

Notably, the contract for the construction and installation of equipment for the passenger terminal building—the heart of the project—requires custom-designed and imported equipment from abroad. Consequently, the project’s progress heavily relies on the production of specialized equipment from these countries.

Regarding Component 4, some packages have not yet selected investors, causing delays that could potentially impact the entire airport’s operation.

Completing Procedures by February 15, and Mobilizing Additional Resources if Necessary

At the January 25 meeting, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to expedite and strengthen their efforts in implementing the project for the headquarters of the animal and plant quarantine station under Component 1, as other agencies have already completed their tasks.

For Component 2, which is currently on schedule, the Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV) and related agencies must complete it by April 30, 2025.

The Prime Minister clarified that Component 3 is currently the most challenging. Specifically, the equipment for X-ray machines and conveyors must be ordered from abroad. Therefore, for the construction part, it is necessary to review the tasks, make more specific divisions of labor, conduct stricter inspections, reorganize the construction process, and implement simultaneous construction to accelerate progress. This may include working through holidays and weekends to recover lost time. Once the exterior is completed, interior work can commence immediately.

The Prime Minister suggested drawing on the experience gained from implementing the 500 kV power line project, including engaging additional contractors, such as those who performed well at Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports. He also proposed supplementing the workforce with additional personnel, including, if necessary, members of the public security and military forces for tasks that can be done manually. Regarding equipment-related challenges, ACV and the contractor should visit the factories of overseas suppliers to expedite production.

For Component 4, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Transport to take full responsibility for all related tasks and complete the remaining procedures by February 15. Similarly, the Prime Minister instructed the relevant agencies to finalize the procedures for the construction of Runway 2 by February 15. ACV will handle the funding for this runway according to its authority.

Regarding the connecting transport infrastructure, which must be essentially completed in 2025, the Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Transport and related agencies to promptly initiate the necessary procedures. The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment were instructed to urgently balance and allocate capital for this project.

Earlier, in early December 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conducted his fifth inspection of the progress of the Long Thanh Airport project and held a meeting with relevant ministries, sectors, and local authorities.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the significant progress made in implementing the project, highlighting the completion of a substantial volume of work and the increasingly clear shape of the project. He noted that several packages had exceeded their schedules, particularly Components 2 and 3, with over 6,000 workers and 2,200 construction equipment mobilized on-site.

During this meeting, the Head of the Government instructed that all tasks must be completed by December 31, 2025, and the Long Thanh Airport must be operational by February 28, 2026. He emphasized the urgency of recovering lost time and the imperative to avoid further delays.