Laos inaugurates and puts into use Nongkhang airport

This is an important project, contributing to improving and modernizing transport infrastructure, promoting socio-economic development of Laos in general and Huaphanh province in particular.

Laos inaugurated and put into use Nongkhang airport photo 1 — *Delegates held the inauguration ceremony and put into use Nongkhang airport in Huaphanh province, Laos.*

On May 15, in Samneua district, Huaphanh province, Northern Laos, the handover, inauguration and putting into use ceremony of Nongkhang airport took place.

Attending the ceremony were Lao Minister of Transport and Public Works Ngarmpasong Meungmany; Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Committee; Secretary and Governor of Huaphanh Province Vanxay Phengsoumma; representatives of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Luang Prabang Province and relevant units of the two countries.

According to the Lao Civil Aviation Authority, Nongkhang Airport plays a strategic role in the economic development of Huaphanh province in particular and the northeastern region of Laos in general, helping to quickly connect the area with the capital Vientiane and other localities.

Laos inaugurated and put into use Nongkhang airport photo 2 — *Scene of the signing ceremony of Nongkhang airport handover.*

In addition, Nongkhang Airport is located in the gateway area for economic road traffic between Laos and Vietnam, which is an important factor promoting import and export development across the border of the two countries. Putting the airport into operation plays an important role in developing the economy and tourism of Huaphanh province in particular and Laos in general.

Nongkhang Airport is a project within the Lao Government's infrastructure development strategy to transform Laos from a landlocked country to a regionally connected country.

The project has a total investment capital of 82 million USD, using loan capital from Hoang Anh Gia Lai International Agriculture Joint Stock Company, in the form of Build-Transfer (BT) between Hoang Anh Gia Lai International Agriculture Joint Stock Company and the Lao Government.

The project is built according to the 3C standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), with a capacity to serve 100,000 passengers/year and can accommodate aircraft with 70 to 100 seats.

Laos inaugurated and put into use Nongkhang airport photo 3 — *Ceremony to put Nongkhang airport into use.*

Huaphanh Province Secretary and Governor Vanxay Phengsoumma said that Huaphanh's limited transport infrastructure system has greatly affected the local socio-economic development.

The inauguration and putting into use of Nongkhang airport meets the expectations of the ethnic people of Huaphanh province, creating conditions for the province to develop in all aspects, and is an important milestone in the cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong assessed that the operation of Nongkhang airport contributes to promoting connectivity and socio-economic development for Laos in general and Huaphanh province in particular, while also enhancing the special relationship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.