Government of Timor-Leste

The Minister of Transport and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, attended, in Dili, on September 14^th, 2026, the ceremony marking the start of construction of the new passenger terminal at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport, undertaken by the Japanese company TOA Corporation.

The ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, Gastão de Sousa; the Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste, Yamamoto Yasushi; the Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Timor-Leste, Daisuke Fukumori; and representatives from AERO Dili, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and other entities involved in the project.

The start of construction on the terminal marks the continuation of the development and expansion of Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport, officially launched on May 20^th, 2025, following the planning, technical studies, mobilisation of financing, and coordination among institutions and development partners.

In his address, Minister Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu clarified that this “ceremony (...) is neither a new nor a second launch of this project, but rather the continuation of the commitment made on May 20^th, 2025, marking the beginning of a new, concrete phase: the start of construction of the new passenger terminal building.”

The contract for the construction of the new passenger terminal was signed on February 20^th, 2026. The terminal is a key component of the airport’s integrated development and expansion programme and must comply with engineering and safety requirements, airport systems integration standards, and international aviation norms.

Construction is to be coordinated with other ongoing interventions at the airport, including works in the operational area supported by the Asian Development Bank and access infrastructure and ancillary facilities supported by Australia. These components are part of the expansion and modernisation programme for Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport.

The Minister stated that although the contractual schedule anticipates completion of the works near the end of 2028, he reiterated the Government’s target to complete the airport, including the new passenger terminal, by May 20^th, 2028.

According to the Minister, this goal is also linked to preparing national infrastructure for Timor-Leste’s future ASEAN Chairmanship. By then, it will be necessary to train operational teams, test the new facilities, and ensure the airport operates under proper conditions.

“The new passenger terminal building is the first space people encounter when they arrive in Timor-Leste and the last, they see when they leave our country. Therefore, the terminal must be modern, safe, efficient, and functional, and it must also reflect our identity, hospitality, and national dignity,” stated the Minister.

Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu requested that the construction company ensure the timely mobilisation of human resources, equipment, materials, and technical capacity required to execute the works, emphasising the need for coordination among the Government, the company, consultants, airport authorities, and other partners involved.

JICA’s Chief Representative in Timor-Leste, Daisuke Fukumori, highlighted the link between airport infrastructure improvements and the country’s regional integration.

“The passenger terminal building will serve as an important gateway linking Timor-Leste to ASEAN and the international community, facilitating the movement of people, goods, and ideas and contributing to the country’s economic development and regional competitiveness,” he stated.

The new passenger terminal is part of a series of interventions to expand and modernise Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport, carried out by the Government of Timor-Leste with support from development partners.