Project for Improvement of Pohnpei International Airport
－FSM and Japan, signed Exchange of Notes -
On September 16, 2008, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan, Shoji Sato and Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the FSM, Hon. Lorin Robert signed the Exchange of Notes for the Project for Improvement of Pohnpei International Airport granted by Japan’s ODA.
（Back Left: President Mori, Back Right: Mr.Mori,
Front Left: Sec. Robert, Front Right: Ambassador Sato）
On September 16, 2008, the Exchange of Notes was signed by the Japanese Ambassador Sato and Secretary Robert and witnessed by Mr. Yoshiro Mori, the ambassador on special mission and the President Mori.
This is a bulk project, total amount of aprox.26million US dollars, for runway extension, runway safety enhancement, rehabilitation and expansion of the terminal facilities and apron. The runway will be extended 228m by this project. The importance of this project has been acknowledged especially when the cargo airplane over-run the runway and the airport had to be closed for 6 days in May, 2008. Not only security improvement but also contribution to the economic development is expected.
President Mori expressed his appreciation to former Prime Minister Mori during their meeting in September saying, ‘I have understood that the project will be completed in a few years and hope to boom the tourism by having flights from Japan by a Japanese airline. I would like to encourage the investment and to promote a joint venture to widen the opportunities.
*expected completion image*
After the ceremony, the big applause was given to Mr. Okada, the Vice-Minister for Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Tourism when he handed over the picture of the image of completion of runway to the Secretary Robert. The project is expected to complete in February 2011.