Ministry of Economic Development has handed over the Notification of Intention to Award to the contractor who won the bid for the development of Gan International Airport (GIA) in Addu City.
GIA is an important hub linked to the economy and social aspects of the southern atolls. Many people believe that the lack of a modern airport is one of the biggest obstacles to the development of Addu and the expansion of tourism in the city. The government has now decided to upgrade the main gateway to southern atolls.
The development of GIA will be carried out under the line of credit of the Exim Bank of India. The economic ministry stated it had informed the contractor and will be officially awarded the project after the five-day standstill period under the Finance Act.
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 airport will be expanded to provide cargo facilities with cold storage for businesses and the tourism industry. In addition, a new control tower, a fire station, the airport roads, and parking areas will be modernised.
The government said GIA is an important project to expand the role of Addu in the development of the entire country. The airport will become an important project to connect the southern provinces with the world. The GIA will create more jobs and increase the prosperity of the people of the south. The GIA development project is an important project to implement the policy of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to develop Addu as an economic hub.