Upgrade of Nicaragua’s Punta Huete airport now expected to start in July

Works to upgrade Nicaragua’s Punta Huete military airbase to turn it into an international airport are due to begin in July, presidential advisor on investment affairs Laureano Ortega Murillo said.

In an interview with broadcaster TN8, Ortega Murillo said the project that will be built by China’s CAMCE has funding secured. 

In February, the transport and infrastructure ministry (MTI) said works would begin in September this year at the latest. 

The national assembly announced in February it approved a 2.87bn yuan (US$400mn) financing agreement that was signed in December by Chinese and Nicaraguan authorities. 

Punta Huete will have a 3.6km runway and be able to handle 3.5mn passengers a year. 

Ortega Murillo, who is the son of President Daniel Ortega, said agreements on other highway infrastructure projects are close to being signed, and two hydroelectric projects – Tumarin and Moholka – are advancing. 

Nicaragua established diplomatic relations with China two years ago and the two countries have signed multiple cooperation agreements since.