That Luang marsh development set to start in November 2012
This area will be developed as an access road linking Phonthan T-junction to the That Luang marsh specific economic zone in Vientiane.
Construction works on the US$1.6-billion That Luang marsh specific economic zone (SEZ) in Vientiane are expected to begin in November, at the same time Laos will play host to the ASEM summit, according to a government report last week.
The Chinese developer, Wan Feng Shanghai Real Estate Company, is preparing the necessary facilities for the ground breaking ceremony at the project site, set to take place in November when the top leaders of Laos and China will be present to join the ceremony.
They have now designed the project to correspond with the That Luang marsh development plan, which has already been approved by the government.
Minister to the Government Office and Vice President of the NCSEZ Ms Bounpheng Mounphosay said in her report at the SEZ meeting in Vientiane last week that the developer is now preparing to build an access road to the zone.
The road will be 400 metres in length and 36 metres wide, linking Phonthan T-junction to the project site. In addition, the developer will start to clear land in a buffer-zone area of 6.5 hectares, where there will be no development.
They are also preparing the drainage system within the That Luang marsh SEZ and the SEZ management office. All these facilities will be in place for the ground breaking ceremony in November.
The SEZ project will cover an area of 365 hectares, of which 303 hectares will figure in the first phase, with the remaining 62 hectares to be reserved for future expansion.
The SEZ project covers the six villages of Nonvai, Meuang Noi, Nonkhor Neua, Phonthan, Phonpapao and Donkoy in Xaysettha and Sisattanak districts. The relevant authorities and the developers are now in process of compensating villagers affected by the project.
The government signed the agreement with the Chinese company in Vientiane late last year, allowing the investors to develop That Luang marsh as a specific economic zone, which will stimulate further socio-economic development in Laos.
Under the agreement, the Chinese company will spend 12,000 billion kip (US$1.6 billion) to develop That Luang marsh into a modern residential precinct which includes tourist and cultural attractions as well.
The project will include a large residential area, public parks and green spaces, a large marsh, roads and drainage systems, a sports complex and trades and service centre. The service precinct will include five-star hotels, shopping centres and numerous entertainment venues.
The company will excavate a large marsh in the centre of the new town and undertake associated drainage works, in line with the government's strategy to develop the marsh in a way that ensures waste water drains effectively from the town. The developers expect to spend between 15 and 20 years to complete the whole project.
By Times Reporters
