Pahang State Minister Datuk Seri Wan Roth Dewan Ismail said the construction of the GabinKuantan International Airportis scheduled to start next year and then become operational in 2026 at a development cost of RM2 billion.
The new airport is also part of a plan to develop a mixed development of the Aerotropolis, which covers an area of 5,042 hectares, which he said would be a catalyst for economic growth in Pahang.
The existing Sultan Haji Ahmed Shah Airport here belongs to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and the construction of the new airport was decided at the end of 2019 and approved by the National Physical Planning Committee (NPPC) on October 21.
“The joint venture project will be developed through a Private Financing Initiative (PFI) which has a Build-Operate-Own (BOO) development concept and the operation of the airport will be handled entirely by the company through the formation of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) i.e. Pahang Airport Ltd.
“The development of this project is expected to be a catalyst for economic growth in Pahang, involving a gross development value (GDV) of RM7.5 billion per annum or the equivalent of RM150 billion in 20 years, in addition to the state government’s target of acquiring at least one percent of the Asia Pacific The maintenance, overhaul and repair market (MRO) is estimated to be worth RM15 trillion.
"Part of the project involves 70 percent for MRO and the remaining 30 percent for the operation of the airport itself," he said in a media statement after witnessing the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the project here today.
At the ceremony, the state government was represented by Pahang Group Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Hosse Ni Harumani, while Jiading Group Sdn Bhd, the main developer of the two projects, was executed by him Chairman Datuk Seri Johari Harun was represented.
The regent of Pahang Tunku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah also graced the event.According to Wan Rosdy, Gading Group Berhad has business expertise in the aerospace sector by providing equipment and services for aircraft and machinery or other equipment related to aviation services.
In addition, Wan Rosti said the project will create jobs through the development of industry, services and tourism, with the goal of providing 20,000 jobs for airport operations and 30,000 other skilled and semi-skilled jobs.
He added that the project also takes into account the economic hub as it is located in the Gabion Industrial Area, close to Kuantan Port and the East Coast Rail Link Project (ECRL), which will attract investors.
