Construction of the new $1.2 billion Techo Takhmao International Airport (TIA) in Cambodia is nearing completion and could transform the capital Phnom Penh into a major logistics and economic hub in Southeast Asia, according to a recent report. of the Daily Express. The project, located in Kandal province, promises to position Cambodia as a key player in global trade and tourism, on a trajectory similar to that of Singapore.
The TIA will not only strengthen the Cambodian economy, but could propel Phnom Penh to become an economic hub comparable to its Southeast Asian neighbor, Singapore. Like Changi Airport in Singapore, which played a crucial role in connecting East and West, TIA could become a key link for international trade. Airport infrastructure is expected to increase the flow of goods and people, thereby boosting the nation’s economic growth.
According to the report, TIA will be one of the largest airports in the world when it begins operations in the first half of 2025. With an initial capacity to handle between 13 and 15 million passengers a year and 175,000 tons of cargo, the airport aims to position itself among the main logistics nodes in Asia. In addition, it is designed to accommodate large aircraft, with runways of more than 3,000 meters in length, which will allow Cambodia to fully integrate into global transportation networks.
Over the next few decades, the airport will see significant expansion in three phases. The first phase will be ready in 2025, while a second phase will be completed in 2030, expanding passenger capacity to 30 million annually. By 2050, TIA will reach its full potential, with a capacity of 50 million passengers per year, rivaling the current capacity of Singapore’s Changi Airport, which handles approximately 42 million passengers per year.
The report also highlights that Cambodia, although it has had a history marked by conflict and poverty, is experiencing an economic renaissance. Currently, it is the fastest growing economy in Southeast Asia and the third in all of Asia, making it an attractive market for foreign investors. This economic dynamism, combined with key infrastructure investments, is setting the stage for Cambodia to compete with other regional giants.
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An interesting aspect of the TIA is its unique design, which incorporates elements of Cambodian culture and architecture. The airport will have a structure that imitates the characteristics of the country’s forests, with columns that resemble tree trunks and a roof that functions as a screen to filter sunlight. In addition, it has been designed to minimize energy consumption, adopting natural cooling techniques that allow heat to be expelled efficiently without having to rely completely on air conditioning systems.
The parallel with Singapore is no coincidence. Singapore has achieved its position as a regional economic power in part thanks to its transportation infrastructure, including both its Changi Airport and its deep-sea port, a crucial hub for maritime trade. Cambodia could follow a similar route, not only through its new airport, but also with other strategic projects such as the Funan Techo Canal (FTC), which is designed to connect Phnom Penh with the coastal province of Kep, located in the Gulf of Thailand. This initiative will reduce shipping costs through the port of Sihanoukville, facilitating maritime trade and positioning Cambodia as a regional transit hub.
Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has highlighted the importance of this channel, noting that it will give Cambodia greater independence to export products, reducing dependence on Vietnam as an export route. This, together with the opening of the TIA, represents a change in the dynamics of logistics and trade in Southeast Asia.
The track record of successful airport projects in other regions, such as Dubai Airport, which contributed more than $26 billion to the UAE economy and generated more than 400,000 jobs, provides an encouraging glimpse of the impact the TIA could have in Cambodia. The Cambodian airport is expected to follow a similar path, boosting job creation and increasing the country’s gross domestic product as it becomes a key hub for international trade and tourism.
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