Press Releases
Signing and Exchange of Notes concerning the Grant Aid to the Lao People's Democratic Republic “The Project for the Improvement of Vientiane International Airport”
October 11, 2024
On October 9, 2024, in advance of the Japan-Laos Summit meeting, in Vientiane, the capital of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mr. KOIZUMI Tsutomu, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and H.E. Mr. Phoxay KHAYKHAMPHITHOUNE, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, signed and exchanged notes for the Grant Aid “The Project for the Improvement of Vientiane International Airport” (project of up to 2.836 billion yen).
- For Laos, the only landlocked country in ASEAN with 80% of its land area mountainous, air transport is one of the most important infrastructures for strengthening connectivity with abroad.
However, there are concerns that the passenger terminal building is not convenient due to insufficient passenger throughput, and the taxiway and apron are showing signs of damage due to age-related deterioration. With air passenger demand and the number of aircraft arrivals and departures expected to increase in the future, improving the convenience and safety of airports is a pressing issue. - This project is expected to improve the convenience and safety of Vientiane International Airport through the expansion of the passenger terminal building and the pavement renovation of the taxiway and apron, which need to be addressed as soon as possible, and to contribute to strengthening connectivity of Laos with abroad.
(Reference) Basic Data on the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
The country covers 240,000 square kilometers (about the same size as Japan's main island of Honshu) with a population of approximately 7.63 million people and, its gross national income (GNI) per capita is US$2,120 (2023, World Bank).