A ceremony was held in Samneua District, Laos' Houaphanh Province on Monday to hand over and put into operation Nong Khang Airport, which is expected to play a strategic role in the economic development of the northeast of Laos and Houaphanh Province in particular.

Nong Khang Airport is part of the Lao Government’s infrastructure development strategy aimed at transforming Laos from a landlocked to a regionally connected nation. The Build-Transfer (BT) project has a total investment of US$82 million, financed through a loan from Viet Nam's Hoang Anh Gia Lai Agriculture JSC. The airport is built according to the 3C standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), capable of serving 100,000 passengers per year and accommodating aircraft with 70-100 seats.

Speaking at the event, Secretary of the Party Committee and Governor of Houaphanh Province Vanxay Phengsoumma said the inauguration of Nong Khang Airport was not only an important milestone in Laos-Viet Nam cooperation but also fulfilled the long-awaited expectations of local ethnic groups, offering opportunities to the province to grow in all aspects.

According to the Lao Department of Civil Aviation, Nong Khang Airport facilitates quick connectivity between the northeast of Laos and Vientiane capital city, as well as other cities and provinces.

Located in an important economic-trade gateway between Laos and Viet Nam, the airport also contributes significantly to the development of cross-border export-import activities between the two countries. It not only promotes tourism and economic growth of Houaphanh but also symbolises the enduring friendship and sustainable cooperation between the two neighbouring countries. — VNS