An unused runway at the Hớn Quản military airport in Bình Phước Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Sỹ Tuyên

BÌNH PHƯỚC — The Ministry of Transport has green-lighted upgrades to the Hớn Quản military airport in the southern province of Bình Phước and conversion into a specialised airport.

It will be used for transporting equipment to hospitals, machinery to construction sites and experts and skilled workers to companies and projects.

Formerly called Técníc, it was built for use during the French resistance war and is managed by the military.

The Bình Phước People’s Committee had called for upgrading it and using it also for certain specialised purposes.

In January 2021 the Government instructed the province to send in the proposal to the defence and transport ministries.

The Ministry of National Defence gave approval last year.

The airport will be expanded to 400-500ha from its current 100ha under a public-private-partnership model.

The defence ministry will collaborate closely with the ministries of Construction and Transport and the province to draw up the construction plan.

Situated around 130km from HCM City, Bình Phước borders Cambodia and is expected to become a major industrial hub of the southern region. — VNS