Nakhonesup Plaza opening experiences delays
Nakhonesup Plaza opening experiences delays
The opening of the Nakhonesup Shopping Plaza located in central Vientiane has obviously run into delays as the official opening has not yet taken place despite originally being slated for December 2013.
Construction work on the US$25 million project was completed in July 2013 with only decoration work still needing to be carried out further, the project developers told the Vientiane Times in that month.
But the decoration of the five-storey plaza structure located on Phonsa-art road in Phonsa-art village, Chanthabouly district is presently unfinished – and the plaza structure is being fenced with zinc roof sheets.
The private investors behind the joint project cannot be reached for comment on what are the reasons behind the delay.
The plaza is a joint-venture investment between the local investor, Nakhonesup Group and a Chinese investor, Lao-Huachen Development and Investment Company.
Deputy Director of the Vientiane Department of Industry and Commerce Mr Sompasong Sanguanvong said the department was aware of the delay.
But the department has no details of what were the causes for the delay, he added, given that the plaza was 100 percent invested by private businesses.
Land use rights for the plot where the plaza is being developed also fall under individual ownership, Mr Sompason said.
Officials explained that state bodies will ensure regular inspection and follow up if a state involved project is proceeding according to the plan.
This only applies to state investment projects and projects of state joint ventures including projects whose lands were leased from the state to maximise state benefit.
Construction work of the plaza, reported to be one of the high-profile shopping centres in the capital, began in November 2012.
Lao-Huachen Development and Investment Company Director, Mr Chen Yno Hun told the Vientiane Times in July 2013 that varieties of products were set to be sold at the plaza, once it was opened.
He said at the time that international boutique goods were to be sold on the first floor, while the second floor was for clothes, the third floor for IT, electronics and digital products, the fourth floor for wholesale companies and the ?fth ?oor to serve as a food court and children's playground.
The shopping mall would also provide an underground parking lot. Nakhonesup Shopping Plaza consists of over 300 vending spaces excluding the fourth floor which is for wholesale companies.
As of July 2013, more than half of the total spaces for the plaza were booked, according to Mr Chen.
