Government Strengthens Coordination with Indonesia to Accelerate Expansion Work at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport
On October 15th, 2026, the Government of Timor-Leste met in Jakarta with Indonesia’s Minister of Investment and Industrial Development, Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, who also serves as Executive Head of the investment management agency Daya Anagata Nusantara (Danantara). The meeting aimed to assess progress on the expansion project at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport and to strengthen coordination with Indonesia to accelerate work by the Indonesian state-owned enterprise Waskita Karya, with a view to completion by 2028.
The Timorese delegation was led by Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, the Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, and Minister of Tourism and Environment, accompanied by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, and the Vice-Minister of Commerce and Industry, Augusto Júnior Trindade.
During the meeting, the Timorese Government expressed concern about the pace of work on the ground and requested support from the Indonesian authorities to accelerate construction. Rosan Perkasa Roeslani indicated Indonesia’s readiness to support Waskita Karya in meeting the established schedule.
Danantara is the Indonesian state agency responsible for managing state investments and equity stakes in public enterprises. Waskita Karya is part of this corporate structure through PT Danantara Asset Management, which holds a majority stake in Waskita Karya. This institutional relationship formed the basis for the Government of Timor-Leste’s approach to Danantara to strengthen oversight of the project’s execution.
The meeting continued the Government’s ongoing monitoring of the project. In August this year, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay and Miguel Manetelu met in Dili with representatives of Waskita Karya, the Administration of Airports and Air Navigation of Timor-Leste (ANATL, E.P.), and the project management team to assess construction progress and execution challenges.
Waskita Karya is responsible for the runway expansion and the construction of associated airport infrastructure under a design-and-build contract valued at approximately US$72.5 million, as part of a project supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The interventions are part of the broader development and modernisation programme for Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport, which encompasses various components supported by development partners, including the construction of a new passenger terminal.
The project aims to expand capacity and improve operational conditions at the country’s main international airport, amid growing air connectivity and Timor-Leste’s ongoing preparations to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029.
The Government will continue to monitor the implementation of the project’s various components and coordinate with the partners involved to ensure adherence to their respective implementation schedules.
