[Translation] Interview of Pokhara airport construction manager Yang Zhigang
Originally published on February 26, 2023.
"Sticking to Nepal for 10 years, participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting connectivity, and contributing to the friendship between China and Nepal are worth all these years!" -Yang Zhigang
Reported by Jie Yazhen
"After opening on January 1 to improve domestic transportation in Nepal, Pokhara International Airport plans to open international routes in March to provide more convenient routes for international tourists, effectively promote Nepal's tourism and economic and social development, and create more development opportunities to benefit people's livelihood." Speaking of Nepal's most modern airport contracted by a Chinese enterprise, Yang Zhigang, general manager of the Pokhara International Airport project of China International Engineering Co., LTD. (hereinafter referred to as "China CAMC Engineering Co. Ltd"), a subsidiary of China National Machinery Industry Corporation, is very proud. "The terminal of Pokhara International Airport is the most modern building in Nepal. A lot of nearby residents came to visit and take photos, and it became a hot spot for social media influencers."
Pokhara, Nepal's second largest city, is located in the southern foothills of the Himalayas and is a world-famous tourist destination. For a long time, however, international tourists could only come to Pokhara via Kathmandu. Inconvenient transportation greatly restricts the development of tourism. The airport land was approved as early as 1971, but it has not been put into practice. Building a modern international airport has been a dream of the Nepali government and people for more than half a century.
As a key project under the Belt and Road cooperation framework between China and Nepal, Pokhara International Airport was designated as Nepal's "National Honorary Project" upon its inception. The project is financed by the Export-Import Bank of China and contracted by China Industrial International. The construction began in July 2017.
Yang Zhigang introduced that Pokhara International Airport is designed and constructed in strict accordance with modern high standards and is a 4D international airport. The airport runway is 2,500 meters long and the terminal building area is nearly 15,000 square meters. Equipped with advanced airport facilities, it can take off and land large aircraft such as Airbus 320 and Boeing 757. "Once the airport is operational, it will only take 25 minutes to fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara."
"With this airport, Pokhara becomes a hub connecting many countries." "No one doubts the contribution of Pokhara International Airport to the economic development of the whole country," Nepali Prime Minister Prachanda said at the launch ceremony.
Despite the difficulties encountered during construction, the airport gives Yang a sense of accomplishment. "Apart from the economic contribution, I am more pleased that the completion of Pokhara International Airport has left a brand new construction model and standard for Nepal, and trained a number of talents for the development of Nepal's civil aviation industry." Yang Zhigang said in a spirited tone.
Previously Nepal’s airports have been small, staffed by people with low skills and no concept of EPC (Engineering Procurement Construction). "First, we invited them to visit the Capital(Beijing) Airport and Chengdu Shuangliu Airport, and they said, 'This is what we want'. Then we invited domestic experts to explain to the people, and then demonstrated in detail through videos and animations. After they had a deeper understanding of modern international airports, we slowly guided them to accept our design, process and scheme." Yang said that nearly 1,000 Nepali workers have found a stage to display their talents in the project. They have absorbed advanced ideas, learned new technologies and understood the turnkey engineering process specifications, and many of them have become experts in related industries with the construction of the airport.
Mr. Yang was most impressed by Pradeep. "At the beginning of the project, Pradeep was the project manager for the Nepali side, and towards the end of the project, he was promoted to director general of the Civil Aviation Authority."
"These people will become the backbone of Nepal's civil aviation industry. With advanced ideas, talents, practical experience and the benchmark of Pokhara International Airport, I believe that the construction and operation of airports in Nepal will be upgraded to a new model of macro planning management and general contracting in the future." Yang Zhigang said firmly.
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