The Ministry of Economic Development has revealed that a contractor will be hired for the Gan International Airport (GIA) Development Project by January 2023.
In October, the Exim Bank of India opened the opportunity for short-listed parties to submit bids for the GIA development project. The Exim Bank began pre-qualifying contractors for the project in May and has approved seven of the companies to submit their bids.
Speaking to PSM News, Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail highlighted the ongoing government projects to develop Addu City. He said that the GIA development project will soon be handed over to a contractor and that the work was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that the government has done all the necessary work to meet the expectations of residents of Addu but that it would take time for the projects to be completed.
The project aims to develop GIA to serve 1.5 million passengers per year through the line of credit extended by the Exim Bank. The project includes the construction of a new domestic terminal, control tower, and fire station, as well as upgrading and renewing the current terminal, duty-free shops, and restaurants. It also includes paving a new path that leads to the airport, as well as installing solar panels. The estimated cost of the project is USD17 million.
The government has stated the development of GIA is crucial to the development of the tourism industry and other businesses in the southern region of the Maldives. Delivering his address at the Parliament of the Maldives, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said national development cannot progress without the development of Addu City and that major development projects are ongoing in the city through the line of credit extended by the Exim Bank. The development of Addu is a pledge of President Solih, and the administration aims to make the city the country's southern commercial hub.