Khartoum - The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the Turkish Suma company signed on Thursday an agreement on construction of new Khartoum international airport through the boot system as the total cost of the construction of the airport amounts to 1.15 billion dollars and the company is to implement the first phase of the project in 30 months at the cost of 800 million dollars.
Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Dr. Mohamed Osman Al Rekabi signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of the Sudan, while Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Turkish company Salim Bora signed for it.
The signing ceremony of the agreement was attended by the Turkish Deputy Minister of Economy Al Fateh Matin, the Turkish Ambassador to Sudan, ministers of the economic sector, Civil Aviation Authority, the Airports Holding Company, implementation unit of the new airport and Justice Ministry.
The Minister of Financing and Economic Planning said the agreement represents a new approach in the field of investment and implementation of infrastructure projects in the country that cope with the policies of the state to enable foreign and national private sector to invest through modern means, including the boot system.
He pointed out that the main goal of the agreement is to establish an international airport that suits the position of Sudan and contributes to boosting the national economy, referring to the strategic position of the Sudan that links the continents of Asia, Africa and Europe.
The Turkish Deputy Minister of Economy, on his part, explained that Suma Company has succeeded in construction works in 15 countries, 11 countries of them in Africa, pledging completion of the first phase of the project in 30 months’ time instead of 36 months period stipulated by the agreement.
Sudan is considered as a gate to Africa, the Turkish deputy minister said, noting that the airport would have the capacity of handling a million passengers.