Laos and Japan Boost Airport Upgrade Project with $26.5 Million Grant

The Lao government and Japan have strengthened their partnership in infrastructure development with a revised agreement to upgrade Wattay International Airport.

The Governments of Laos and Japan signed an updated Exchange of Notes on August 5, 2026, for the Wattay International Airport Improvement Project. Japan will provide grant assistance worth approximately $26.5 million (3.863 billion yen) to support the airport's ongoing upgrade.

The revised agreement increases the grant amount by 1.027 billion yen compared to the original arrangement reached in 2024. The additional funding aims to cover higher construction and procurement costs due to inflation and other factors, ensuring the project remains on track for completion according to plan.