DILI, 26 March 2026 (TATOLI) – The government of Timor-Leste has approved $13.7 million to upgrade the passenger terminal at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport, as part of a project co-financed by Japan.
The project is part of a wider plan to modernize and expand Timor-Leste’s main international airport, a key gateway for the country’s connectivity and economic development.
In February, the government signed a contract in Tokyo with Japan’s TOA Corporation for the construction of a new passenger terminal. The agreement was signed by the Minister of Transportation and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu and TOA Corporation Chief Executive Katsuhisa Kimura.
The project requires high engineering standards, strict compliance with international aviation regulations and close coordination with other ongoing works at the airport. These include projects supported by the Asian Development Bank and the Australian government.
The new passenger terminal is considered a key component of the airport’s long-term development strategy and is expected to help prepare Timor-Leste to host future international events, including the ASEAN Summit planned for 2029.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
