Completion of Two Projects at Kabul International Airport
Funded by Japanese
Grant Assistance
December 25, 2013
"Kusudama" Opening Ceremony (very popular style of opening ceremony in Japan)
attended by Minister Najafi, Captain Hamid, DG of CAA, Ambassador Takahashi, Dr. Rassuli, President KIA
and Mr. Takashima, Representative of JICA Afghanistan
A hand-over ceremony was
held at the Kabul International Airport, marking the completion of two separate
projects, namely “The Project for Rehabilitation of Airfield Pavements at Kabul
International Airport” and “The Project for Rehabilitation and Expansion of Aircraft
Parking Aprons at Kabul International Airport.”
The occasion was attended by H.E.Mr.Hiroshi Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan to
Afghanistan, H.E.Mr. Daud Ali Najafi, Minister of Transportation and Civil Aviation,
Captain Hamid Zahir, Director General of Civil Aviation Authority and Dr. Muhammad
Yaqub Rassuli, President of Kabul International Airport.
The total amount of costs for these two projects exceeds US$ 50million. Through these
projects, the capacity of the aircraft parking space has been increased by 20% and the
taxiways have also been refurbished. In addition to this, the lighting system including
the installation of signage, lighting and markings for all pavement surfaces have newly
been introduced.
To date, the Government of Japan has donated over US$ 90 million to the Kabul
International Airport, including the construction of its International Terminal and the
installation of solar panels. Ambassador Takahashi stated that “the Kabul International
Airport is the aerial gateway to Afghanistan from the world and our funding for this
airport is a symbol of the friendship expressed by the people of Japan towards the
people of Afghanistan. Japan will continue its support to the Kabul International Airport
to improve its facilities and function. We hope that the Government of Afghanistan
would address various challenges it faces during the transitional period.”
It is worth mentioning that since 2001, the Japanese government has approximately
provided US$ 5 billion in assistance to Afghanistan.
