THE Penang International Airport (PIA) expansion works to cater for the burgeoning growth in passenger traffic would be done through private financing initiative (PFI) which will be less costly, says Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Through this initiative, he estimated the open tender for the project to be called by this year.
Elaborating on the matter, he said the PFI model is similar to the strategy used by the Kedah government to build the proposed Kulim airport.
Lim also told reporters that similar model would be applied in other nationwide airports in future in a bid to save cost.
“With this planned expansion, I hope the state’s tourism industry and its economy will be boosted,” said Lim, who is also the Air Putih assemblyman, during a press conference at his service centre today.
With Kedah’s commitment to build the airport, many companies been reportedly showing interest, including those from China and Europe over the construction via private financial initiative.
The introduction of direct flights from Doha, Qatar, to Penang, has brought many foreign visitors to the state, according to Lim.
“This is important to attract more visitors to the state,” added Lim.
Earlier, Lim, together with his wife Betty Chew, Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai and his
service centre members handed out stalks of flowers to Air Putih constituents in view of the coming International Women’s Day celebration.
Many passersby greeted Lim while some were seen taking wefies taken with the him.
Story and pix by Edmund Lee