Dili, Feb. 5, 2025 (Lusa) - Timor-Leste's minister for transport and communications, Miguel Manetelu, said on Wednesday that he expects to receive the design for the construction of the new terminal at Dili's Nicolau Lobato international airport by the end of the first quarter of this year.

"We have signed a contract with a consortium of Japanese consultants to finalise the design. I've asked them to present the design before the end of the first quarter so that it can be approved and we can move ahead with construction," Miguel Manetelu told Lusa.

On Monday, the minister of transport and telecommunications signed a contract for consultancy services with a Japanese consortium to draw up the project for the construction of the airport's new passenger terminal, which also has the support of the Japanese government.

The minister said the "first step" in speeding up the construction of the new passenger terminal was the completion of the project, which aims to modernise the airport and ensure that it will have greater passenger capacity and comply with international standards of airport safety and operation.

In addition to the new passenger terminal, the Timorese government announced in August that it would also be moving ahead with the rehabilitation and expansion of the runway at the country's main airport, in a process that will take place in three phases.

The first will extend the runway from 1,850 metres to 2,150 metres, the second will construct a further 400 metres towards the sea, and the third will extend a further 500 metres away from the sea.

The project will be financed by a loan from the Asian Development Bank, with support from the governments of Japan and Australia and the state budget.

DPYF/ADB // ADB.

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