HKIA Consultancy Limited (HKIA Consultancy) announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with U-Tapao International Aviation Company Limited (UTA) regarding collaboration on the U-Tapao International Airport and Eastern Airport City Development Project near Bangkok.

In a statement, HKIA Consultancy said under the MoU's framework, it will advise UTA on matters related to airport planning, operations, smart technology and commercial development.

During a visit to Thailand led by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region last November, Jack So, chairman of Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), met the BTS Group and started the dialogue on cooperation.

So invited the BTS Group to visit HKIA last December to follow up on the discussion, which led to the signing of the MoU.

"It is our honour to be involved in this important project in Thailand by sharing our experience and expertise in airport management, and commercial developments," the chairman of AAHK said.

The signing of the MoU was witnessed by So and Keeree Kanjanapas, executive chairman of UTA. The MoU was signed by Simon Li, project director of HKIA Consultancy, Kavin Kanjanapas, director of UTA and Pradit Theekakul, director of UTA in Bangkok.

Kanjanapas, for his part, noted that the cooperation with Hong Kong International Airport is part of the U-Tapao International Airport development plan to become a standardised and quality airport, according to international principles.

"This will be achieved by Hong Kong airport's sharing of knowledge and experience in management and technology with UTA, as well as serving as a consultant for various projects which operate under the MoU agreement so that UTA can develop U-Tapao International Airport for sustainable growth," he said.

HKIA Consultancy has provided professional services on subjects relating to airport planning, operations and development to many airports in the region.