Spanish airport builder Garuda Group is expected to pump 15 billion USD into the construction of three world class airports in Vietnam , following an agreement to be signed in HCM City on Jan. 20.

The airports will be the International HCM City-Long Thanh Airport , costing 6 billion USD, the new Hanoi International Airport , 8 billion USD, and the Chu Lai International Airport in central Vietnam with an investment capital of more than 1 billion USD.

The investments will make Garuda the biggest foreign investor in the country so far.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to undertake the Long Thanh airport feasibility study is expected to be signed by the company and the municipal People’s Committee on January 20.

Long Thanh airport will be about 43 km from the hub of HCM City . It is expected to generate 5,500 permanent jobs for Vietnamese workers after construction. Garuda group is an airport/seaport builder, manager and consulting company. Giuliano Koenigsberg, chairman of the Aviation South East Asia, a branch of the Garuda Group, said on Jan. 19 the company would carry out the feasibility study and map out a master plan for Long Thanh project jointly with Vietnam ’s Southern Aviation Corporation.

Last month, the Garuda Group also reached an MoU with the Airport Design Construction Consultancy to set up a joint venture to build the new Hanoi International Airport , its biggest project in Vietnam .

“It will be the largest and the most modern airport in Asia ,” Koenigsberg said. “It will be designed by multi-national companies from Spain and Italy to refleet (Vietnamese) culture and aspirations.”

The foreign partners include Spanish Galo Architects and Italian AIG. The airport would have two heliports, a hospital, school, apartments and hotels. After completion it is expected to generate 10,000 permanent jobs.

Last month, Garuda Group also agreed with the Middle Airport Corporation to establish a joint venture to build Chu Lai International Airport in the central province of Quang Nam . It was expected that Chu Lai would be larger than neighbouring Da Nang airport.

“Spanish enterprices are ready to come here and we see potential intrade and investment between Spain and Vietnam ,” he said.

Chu Lai had an annual capacity of 2.25 million passengers and 1.5 million tonnes of cargo by 2015 and 4.1 million passengers and 5 million tonnes of cargo by 2025.

The group set up an office in Hanoi last year, providing consulting, investment and construction services for infrastructure projects, market surveys, trade and others. It also intends to set up an office in Ho Chi Minh City./.