{
  "id": 15594952,
  "title": "Proposed Kuching international airport could contribute RM1.8b annually to Sarawak GDP by 2050, says state minister",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/proposed-kuching-international-airport-could-contribute-rm1-8b",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-19T10:47:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/19/proposed-kuching-international-airport-could-contribute-rm18b-annually-to-sarawak-gdp-by-2050-says-state-minister/239775"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The proposed New Kuching International Airport (NKIA) in Sarawak could contribute approximately RM1.8 billion annually to the state's GDP by 2050, according to a feasibility study conducted by Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO). The study, presented by Sarawak Minister for Transport Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin, also projected that NKIA could support around 37,919 full-time equivalent jobs across the wider economy during construction and maintenance phases. Lee emphasized that the airport development has the potential to create wider economic opportunities in tourism, aviation services, and supporting industries, including air cargo, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), aircraft parts manufacturing, and aerotropolis development. The completed study concluded that Tanjung Embang is technically and operationally feasible for the proposed airport development.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Proposed Kuching international airport could contribute RM1.8b annually to Sarawak GDP by 2050, says state minister",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/proposed-kuching-international-airport-could-contribute-rm1-8b-15597259",
        "published": "2026-10-19T10:47:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}