An artist's impression of the new Siem Reap Angkor International Airport [Photo/sasax.gov.cn] 

Shanxi Mechanization Construction Group recently won the bid to build two sections of the new Siem Reap Angkor International Airport project in Cambodia for 290 million yuan ($42.16 million). 

The existing Angkor International Airport in Siem Reap, 5 kilometers from the famous ancient temple complex and world tourism site Angkor Wat, has only one runway.

Officials said the vibrations caused by the take-offs and landings of aircraft may damage the foundation of Angkor Wat and the current volume of air traffic cannot meet the rapid development of the local tourism industry. 

The new Siem Reap Angkor International Airport – to be the largest one in Cambodia – will be located 51 km southeast to downtown Siem Reap and 40 km from Angkor Archaeological Park. It will cover an area of around 700 hectares and cost $880 million to construct.

Once the first-phase of the new airport is completed, the new airport will receive 7 million passengers annually, greatly facilitating aviation and the tourism development of Siem Reap and boost the economy Cambodia for whom tourism is second pillar industry. 

Shanxi Mechanization Construction Group will be responsible for construction of the flight area and the auxiliary facilities of the flight area, including the terminal, foundations, earthworks, slopes, the runway and drainage engineering. 

It is the company's first overseas airport project and is a new move in implementing the Belt and Road Initiative and for the group to expand into overseas markets.