7 prequalify for Addu airport project; bidding next week

Seven contractors have been selected during the pre-qualification stages for the redevelopment of the international airport in the southernmost Addu atoll, with bidding set to open next week, government has announced.

Addu airport is being developed under a credit line arranged by the Exim Bank of India at a cost of $17 million (MVR 272.2 million).

Exim Bank opened pre-qualification for the project on 30 May. 

Economic ministry has earlier said that the project will begin later this year, but based on the current progress it is unlikely that the late 2022 deadline will be met. 

Economic minister Fayyaz Ismail spoke about the Gan airport project at a ceremony held on Sunday to sign the agreement for HDh. Hanimaadhoo airport development project.

He said that Gan airport cannot be a real international airport unless a significant investment is made. 

The purpose of making such an investment is to expand the economy of Addu by bringing tourists directly to Addu, said the minister.

"An airport can only be successful when aircraft lands at the airport. Guesthouses or hotels will be built only with the assurance that airlines will operate to the airport. One or the other needs to do this," the minister said.

The minister said that a lot of work has been done by private businesses in Addu for a long time. However, he said that the state should also work with special priority to speed things up.

Fayyaz said Addu is one of the top priorities of the administration's policy to establish four economic hubs in the Maldives, with the exception of Male.

"That's not without a reason. We have identified Addu as the fastest place to be developed from the current situation," he said.

Gan airport project: