DILI, 9 february 2023 (TATOLI)- Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a financial agreement worth 38 million USD with the Government of Timor-Leste through the Ministry of Finance.
Chief Representative of JICA Timor-Leste, Mimpei Tio said the government of Japan through JICA provided grants for a new project of rehabilitation of president Nicolau Lobato International airport.
“ I arrived at Dili President Nicolau Lobato Airport last week, I was deeply moved, touched by the fact that I could be involved in the improvement of this airport,’’ Chief Representative of JICA Timor-Leste, Mimpei Tio said in his remarks, at Minister Finance meeting room, Thursday.
He added President Nicolau Lobato International Airport needs to be expanded in size and quality for the future growth of Timor-Leste, according to the master plan developed with the support of the International Financial Cooperation (IFC) in 2019.
Japan’s Government received a request from the government of Timor-Leste to expand the passenger terminal building and decided to provide grant assistance of 4.6 billion yen, or about 38 million USD.
Mimpei Tio said the feasibility study, which began in 2018, was completed last December, “Today I am pleased to be able to sign the Grant Agreement.’’ He said.
JICA estimated that by 2030 the airport would be used by over 400,000 domestic and international travelers annually. It means that airport expansion is an extremely urgent need.
The passenger terminal building to be constructed under the project is a two-story building with a floor area of 11,653 square meters, meeting the International Civil Aviation Organization international airport standards, known as ICAO.
It is also composed of arrival gates on the ground floor and departure gates on the first floor. Compared to the current one-story, cramped passenger terminal building, the new terminal building is a significant expansion and will undoubtedly provide a great gateway for Timor-Leste as a future member of ASEAN.
Minister of Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes said It is a very significant grant agreement signed between Timor-Leste and the government of Japan through the Japan Cooperation International Agency (JICA).
“I am grateful for both countries’ partnerships on financial mechanisms, which involves multi-financial resources on the government state budget and also grant support from Japan. Timorese government is proud of Japan and Australia grant support for a partnership consortium on President Nicolau Lobato International Aiport,’’ He concluded.
So far the government of Timor-Leste has requested a 135 million loan USD from the ADB for the Dili Airport rehabilitation composed of runways station, traffic control towers, and others.
It is known that JICA will work together with the Timor-Leste government as well as other countries and international donors such as Australia, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and IFC to improve the airport.
The official ceremony of breaking ground for the rehabilitation of Nicolau Lobato International airport will be held in march 2023.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia Borges.
