Thailand’s Supreme Administrative Court clears Charoen Pokphand Group’s bid for Eastern Airport City contract

Construction News
A presentation of the Eastern Airport City Project for Japanese investors. The Supreme Administrative Court ruled on Friday that a consortium led by the Charoen Pokphand Group has the right to bid for the project, which is part of the Eastern Economic Corridor development. (File photo)

Thailand’s Supreme Administrative Court clears Charoen Pokphand Group’s bid for Eastern Airport City contract

The Supreme Administrative Court on Friday ordered the navy to accept the Charoen Pokphan Group (CP)-led consortium’s bid for the 290-billion-baht Eastern Airport City Project, overruling the Administrative Court’s ruling.

The Supreme Administrative Court ruled that the bidding contest would better serve the national interest if it included the tender from the CP consortium in addition to those of the two other contenders.

Representatives of the consortium had begun filing documents within the set deadline, as rules required,  and the nine-minute delay in submitting the consortium’s technical, financial and business plan documents would not cause any significant advantage or disadvantage for the other contenders.

Besides, the Eastern Economic Corridor Office had accepted the participation of the consortium, the court ruled, referring to the bidding contest officially concluded at 3pm on March 21, 2019.

The judgement overruled the finding of the Administrative Court, which supported the navy’s rejection of the CP-led consortium’s bid last August.

The 290-billion-baht project is part of the development of U-Tapao international airport, which is operated by the navy.

The CP-led consortium comprises Thana Holding under CP, Italian-Thai Development Plc, Ch Karnchang Plc, B.Grimm Joint Ventures Holding Co and Orient Success International Co.

The other two bidders for the contract are the BBS consortium (comprising Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Plc, Bangkok Airways Plc and BTS Group Holdings Plc), and the Grand Consortium consisting of Grande Asset Hotel and Property, Asia Aviation (whose majority stake is owned by Thai AirAsia) and Christiani & Nielsen (Thai) Plc.

Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1832874/court-clears-cps-bid-for-eastern-airport-city-contract