Hanimaadhoo Airport Project opens for Bidding

Ministry of economic development has stated in a statement that the bidding process has begun for the development of Hanimaadhoo international airport. The process is being conducted by the Export import Bank of India which has provided necessary funding for the project under a line of credit.

The Ministry stated that the first phase of bidding for the development of Hanimaadhoo International Airport was initiated by India’s EXIM Bank today. The first phase of the bidding is pre-qualification process, in which all parties interested could submit letter of interest. This project is going to be financed under EXIM Bank’s 800 million dollar credit facility and EXIM will have final say over which company contracts the project.

According to the statement released by the Ministry of Economics and Trade regarding the Hanimaadhoo project, a terminal of 111,000 square feet, a runway of 2,460 meters, an apron pf 624,000 square feet and other resources required to run a modern international airport will be developed under this project.

The Ministry also stated that when the project is complete, flights such as the Boeing-737 and Airbus A-320 can land in Hanimaadhoo. Direct flights from the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and African countries can commence travel to Hanimaadhoo. According to the ministry after the developments the airport could carter to 1 million passengers on an annual basis.

The Ministry further stated that the development of Hanimaadhoo Airport is part of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s most important vision of creating an economic hub in the northern region of the Maldives.

Minister for Finance Ibrahim Ameer has stated that this initiative would begin in 2020 when it was first announce in 2019 prior to People’s Majlis elections.