Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday nixed a proposal to build an airport in Kampong Speu, saying he disagreed with the idea, the province’s governor said yesterday.

The premier took the decision at a meeting with provincial officials yesterday, said Kampong Speu governor Vei Samnang. Samnang said he shared the proposal – which he said had been made by Vinci Airports – with Hun Sen, who rejected it, citing the mountainous nature of the province, which would make it difficult to land aircraft.

“Prime Minister Hun Sen said that those who did the study about the airport plan were not right, so there is no plan to build the airport now,” he said.

While the national government was unaware of the plan, Samnang said Vinci Airports held a meeting with provincial authorities in June floating the proposal, while at the same also looking at five other provinces to build an airport.

“I just wanted my province to be famous,” Samnang said. “That is why I wanted to have the airport here.”

Cambodia Airports, in which Vinci is a majority stakeholder, declined to comment on the proposal “while the matter is being addressed”.