Two foreign contractors have applied to develop a new terminal at the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA), Haveeru has found.
However, airport operator Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has so far refused to confirm the reports.
MACL Managing Director Adil Moosa told Haveeru on Sunday that the contract to develop the new terminal worth between USD300-350 million will be signed in the next two months. However, Adil also refused to confirm the number of companies interested in the project.
"The parties that have expressed interest are globally renowned firms at airport development. We are now working to evaluate the bids and sign the contract at the end of next month or early May," he explained.
Development of the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) is a key development project undertaken by the government. The airport, an important infrastructure in the Maldives tourism-based economy, is also a defining factor in local politics as had been seen with the GMR fiasco in 2012.
The government of President Mohamed Naseed had in 2010 leased the airport to Indian infrastructure giant GMR to develop and manage it. The issue of a foreign company managing one of the key assets of the country became central to the opposition protests which ultimately forced the resignation of President Nasheed on February 7, 2012.
Nasheed’s successor later annulled the agreement with GMR, causing unprecedented rifts in the bilateral relations between the Maldives and its closest neighbour, India.
Meanwhile, The government of Saudi Arabia has assured to expedite the loan of USD 100 million (MVR 1.5 billion) from the Saudi Fund for Development to develop the Maldives’ main airport, announced the finance ministry late Saturday.
20/03/16 Mohamed Visham and Abdullah Jameel/Haveeru Online
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However, airport operator Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has so far refused to confirm the reports.
MACL Managing Director Adil Moosa told Haveeru on Sunday that the contract to develop the new terminal worth between USD300-350 million will be signed in the next two months. However, Adil also refused to confirm the number of companies interested in the project.
"The parties that have expressed interest are globally renowned firms at airport development. We are now working to evaluate the bids and sign the contract at the end of next month or early May," he explained.
Development of the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) is a key development project undertaken by the government. The airport, an important infrastructure in the Maldives tourism-based economy, is also a defining factor in local politics as had been seen with the GMR fiasco in 2012.
The government of President Mohamed Naseed had in 2010 leased the airport to Indian infrastructure giant GMR to develop and manage it. The issue of a foreign company managing one of the key assets of the country became central to the opposition protests which ultimately forced the resignation of President Nasheed on February 7, 2012.
Nasheed’s successor later annulled the agreement with GMR, causing unprecedented rifts in the bilateral relations between the Maldives and its closest neighbour, India.
Meanwhile, The government of Saudi Arabia has assured to expedite the loan of USD 100 million (MVR 1.5 billion) from the Saudi Fund for Development to develop the Maldives’ main airport, announced the finance ministry late Saturday.
20/03/16 Mohamed Visham and Abdullah Jameel/Haveeru Online
