Proposing a Special Mechanism to Expedite the Expansion of Phu Quoc Airport Ahead of APEC 2027

Expansion of Phu Quoc International Airport: A Collaborative Effort

The Ministry of Finance has been working closely with various ministries, sectors, and the People’s Committee of Kien Giang province to draft and submit to the Government a Resolution on investing in the expansion of Phu Quoc International Airport.

The Resolution encompasses 4 key aspects.

Firstly, it endorses the investment in expanding Phu Quoc International Airport to accommodate the APEC 2027 summit, adhering to the investment modalities prescribed by the Law on Investment (excluding PPP arrangements).

Secondly, it delegates to the People’s Committee of Kien Giang province the authority to decide or approve investment policies and adjust investment policies, following the procedures applicable to projects under the purview of provincial People’s Committees. While this authority typically resides with the Prime Minister as per Article 31 of the Law on Investment, the Government has issued this Resolution to reallocate this authority to the provincial level as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 8 and Clause 2, Article 32 of the Law on Government Organization.

Thirdly, the Resolution outlines the transfer of airport infrastructure assets from the Ministry of Construction to the People’s Committee of Kien Giang province.

Lastly, it proposes a special mechanism to expedite project implementation, aiming for completion before October 2027.

During the meeting, delegates unanimously acknowledged the necessity of issuing the Resolution and expressed their agreement with the 4 contents outlined in the draft.

Representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Justice, Construction, Public Security, Agriculture and Rural Development, the Government Office, and the People’s Committee of Kien Giang province engaged in discussions regarding the delegation or authorization of investment decision-making powers to the provincial People’s Committee; the proposal to delegate environmental impact assessment approval authority to the province; the scope and area of land transfer, whether to be specified in the Resolution or outlined in principle; and the subsequent steps for investment approval, investor selection, and asset transfer from the Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV) to the investor, among other pertinent matters.

Concluding the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung agreed to endorse the expansion of Phu Quoc International Airport for APEC 2027, employing the investment modality of delegation or authorization of investment policy decision-making powers to the provincial People’s Committee. Additionally, he agreed to delegate environmental impact assessment and fire protection evaluation authority to the province, with guidance and supervision from relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Public Security.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized creating the most favorable conditions to mobilize all available resources for the successful execution of this project. Based on the outcomes of this meeting, the Government Office will gather opinions from Government members to promptly submit them to the Prime Minister for consideration and issuance of the Resolution.