The provincial authorities have allocated 7,000 hectares for the potential development, which will be divided into four zones: Zone A (480 hectares), Zone B (797 hectares), Zone C (2,120 hectares) and Zone D (3,678 hectares). Each zone is designed to accommodate different business activities.

Another source reported that Sithandone SEZ will cover an area of more than 9,846 hectares and it will have its own airport. Source: Future Southeast Asia

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the government and the Guangdong Yellow River Industrial Group in August 2017 allowing the company to conduct a feasibility study for the development as well as project designs. When this MoU ended and the company presented the results of the study, the provincial government approved but, as of January 2018, the company is still waiting for approval from the national government. In October 2018,

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the government and the Guangdong Yellow River Industrial Group in August 2017 allowing the company to conduct a feasibility study for the development as well as project designs. When this MoU ended and the company presented the results of the study, the provincial government approved but, as of January 2018, the company is still waiting for approval from the national government. In October 2018, The master plan of this SEZ highlighted a number of tall buildings that will serve as hotels, restaurants, a shopping center and other tourism-related businesses. In the first phase of the project (2018-2025), the company will focus on building the necessary infrastructure, including roads, water supply and drainage. The second phase may include an airport. [Source: People’s Daily]

According to the strategic agreement between the Laos authorities and the mainland contractor, the SEZ will be built in two phases, with the first scheduled to be completed by 2025. This initial stage will focus on ensuring all the zone's required infrastructure is in place, including roads, utilities and drainage facilities. The second phase will then involve the construction of the actual on-site commercial properties, including several restaurants, a shopping centre and range of other tourism-related businesses. Over the long-term, there are also plans in place to construct a dedicated air-transport facility.

According to the strategic agreement between the Laos authorities and the mainland contractor, the SEZ will be built in two phases, with the first scheduled to be completed by 2025. This initial stage will focus on ensuring all the zone's required infrastructure is in place, including roads, utilities and drainage facilities. As the news reported by March 2021, the source said that Sithandone SEZ has already completed 21 villas as part of a resort complex, a new hotel building, an after-sales service center, as well as the 43-km concrete ring road around Don Khong. [Source: Laotian Times] The second phase will then involve the construction of the actual on-site commercial properties, including several restaurants, a shopping centre and range of other tourism-related businesses. Over the long-term, there are also plans in place to construct a dedicated air-transport facility.

The project also known as ‘Laos Maha Nathi Sithandone’ or ‘The Sithandone SEZ’ [Source: Future Southeast Asia]

At least 140 families from eight villages in the Khong district of southwestern Laos’ Champasak province are refusing to sell their land or relocate to make way for a special economic zone planned for their area. [Source: RFA]

Villagers displaced by the project would need to be relocated and would be provided with new residences and employment, which could be provided by the project.

Villagers displaced by the project would need to be relocated and would be provided with new residences and employment, which could be provided by the project. Villagers of Hinsiu, Phon, Hang Khong, Don Khong, Muang Sen, Phon Kao, Thakhob, and Houakhok villages officially refused to give up their land (according the RFA report on 9th May 2019) “The company wants people’s land, but people don’t want to just hand it over,” said the chief of an affected village. [Source: RFA]

Land loss, impact to the livelihood, local community losing their jobs on fisheries, impacts to the local tourism service. In the beginning of 2020, the Champask provincial authorities have revoked licences previously issued for several tourism projects in Champassak province so the land can be used to create the Maha Nathi Sithandone special economic zone. [Source: LIWG]

The Chairman of the Champassak provincial SEZ Authority, Mr Khamphon Nuansengsy, told that “the company is also committed to paying compensation worth US$6.5 million to businesses that hold tourism services concessions at Khonphapheng Waterfall.” [Source: RentsBuy]

The land survey conducted by company between 2018 – 2019, however villagers reported that they still did not know how much compensation they would get or if they will be compensated or not. [Source: RFA Lao]

According the Chinese News Agency, People Daily reported that ‘the government of Laos will try to ensure priority is given to communities when it comes to job allocation and agriculture production for the project.’ [Source: People’s Daily]

Villagers who refused to give up the land launched a complaint to the People’s Council insisting that they did not want to give up their land as they had lived there for generations. [Source: RFA]