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Infrastructure Fund. According to the IF Portfolio, there are 26 bridge projects, including 12 projects which have been
completed in previous years Daudere bridge, Belulik, Bukoli, Bazartete bridge, bridge at junction Laclubar and Manehat, Comoro I and II, rehabilitation of Loes and Aisa bridges and others.
Another 7 projects are ongoing Dilor, Taroman, Baer, Lawana in Ermera, construction of Comoro III arch bridge and Comoro III, Mauchiga in Ainaro and 7 bridge projects still have not
started. The IF budget allocation for above projects for Bridges Program in 2017 is of 2.822 million.
2.16 AIRPORTS PROGRAM
Airports and international air travel to and from Timor-Leste are essential for businesses and tourism development. However, the country is lack of airport suitable for international standards
which accepted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAO. Domestic aviation services are limited to chartered fixed wing aircraft and helicopter services and the airfields
served are inadequate to handle larger aircraft and more intensive services.
Since the establishment of the IF 7 projects
3
are being included under this Program and they are comprised
of upgrading and extension of the Nicolau Lobato International Airport
in Dili and regional airports at Maliana, Baucau Suai, and Oecussi.
Of these projects: Rehabilitation of existing Dili, Suai and Oecussi
airports are the implementation stage of civil works. The importance of
these projects for Timor-Leste is very
high because the annual airport passenger traffic more than 200.000 passengers according to 2015 statistic data.
The IF budget allocation for projects under the Airports Program in 2017 is of 16.377 million.
2.17 PORTS PROGRAM
Development of ports is a strategic program to support economic growth and local industry, export-import activities that require fast and reliable freight services. Currently, only Dili port is
serving all shipments in Timor-Leste. And port’s capacity is not sufficient for future. Moreover, the regional ports are also in poor condition
4
. The SDP targets the relocation of the main port of Dili to Tibar Bay and the restoration of the regional ports and harbours to fit-for-purpose.
3
This excludes Rehabilitation and Expansion of Suai Airport which is in the Tasi Mane Program.
4
The exception is the port in Oecusse which has been upgraded to handle freight and passenger traffic with JICA
