(KPL) The official ceremony to open the new Attapeu International Airport was officially held in Xaysettha district in the southern province of Attapeu on May 30 in the presence of President Choummaly Sayasone and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang.

Attapeu International Airport represents a total investment of over US$36 million an d was funded by a soft loan from Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Company. It was built by the Lao Government in two years beginning on 10 May 2013 under the build-transfer (BT) form.

The airport includes a 4,300 sq m terminal, capable of serving 300 passengers per day along with a 1,850m runway that can cater to ATR-72 and Fokker aircrafts.

It is a key project in southern Laos which is of both political and socio-economic importance to both the Lao PDR and Vietnam.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, President Choummaly said “The New Attapeu International Airport Construction Project is a key project in the infrastructure development plan of Laos which is aims to promote socio-economic development and to attract investment and tourists to the southern provinces of Laos. This project will help the southern provinces of Laos, especially Attapeu Province to link with regional and international countries by air.”

President Choummaly also hailed the Vietnamese leader’s presence at the ceremony as evidence of the special solidarity and friendship between the two countries.

He said he highly valued Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s efforts in quickly implementing and completing the project, which will help forge connections among domestic localities and between Laos and regional nations, thus enhancing their people-to-people exchanges and collaboration in economic growth and tourism.

President Truong Tan Sang of Vietnam thanked the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and Government as well as Attapeu authorities for creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese projects as well as the airport construction in southern Laos.
He said the Attapeu Airport project illustrates the efficiency, practicality, and diversity of the two countries’ economic ties, including the partnership between their business circles.

He also took this opportunity to ask that Vietnamese companies continue to boost business cooperation and support social activities in Laos, ultimately consolidating the special solidarity and friendship between the two neighbours.

KPL