DILI, 19 June 2026 (TATOLI) — Timor-Leste’s Council of Ministers on Wednesday reviewed progress on the expansion and modernisation of President Nicolau Lobato International Airport, a multi-donor infrastructure project valued at approximately US$239 million and scheduled for phased completion by 2028.
The Cabinet meeting, held at the Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Auditorium at the Ministry of Finance in Dili, opened with a presentation by Minister of Transportation and Communications Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu on the status of the country’s largest aviation infrastructure project.
The airport redevelopment is being implemented in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Australian government through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP).
The project includes the modernisation of the runway, taxiways, aircraft aprons, air traffic control tower, passenger terminal and supporting infrastructure. The revised total investment stands at around US$239 million.
The minister also briefed Cabinet on progress in the construction of new taxiways, aircraft parking aprons, coastal protection works and technical support facilities.
He highlighted ongoing challenges, including land acquisition and coordination across the project’s multiple components, while reaffirming that implementation remains on track for phased completion by 2028.
Once completed, the project is expected to significantly improve the operational capacity, efficiency and safety of President Nicolau Lobato International Airport, strengthening Timor-Leste’s international air connectivity and supporting the country’s long-term economic development.
TATOLI
