Kathmandu, January 29. The Chinese government is preparing to sign a loan agreement with Nepal for the proposed regional international airport in Pokhara, during Prime Minister KP Oli’s visit to Beijing in a few months.

The agreement will pave the way for China’s Exim Bank to provide concessional loan to construct the new airport in the Lake City. Sources at the Minsitry of Civil Aviation have told Onlinekhabar that although the paperwork for the deal is complete, the Chinese side is saying it needs more time.

Prime Minister Oli is likely to visit China in March. Sources say that China wants the deal to be signed during the visit because of the scale of the project.

According to official estimates, the new airport is going to cost around $ 21.7 million. Exim Bank is to provide the sum at an interest of 8.25 per cent.