Friday, March 07, 2008

Macedonia Seeks To Modernise Airports

Macedonia intends to privatise its two commercial airports in a bid to modernise and expand their facilities, it was announced Friday.

Advertisements both in local and international newspapers will be published in order to attract investors, Macedonia’s Transport Minister, Mile Janakievski said at a press conference in Skopje.

“These adverts call on investors to express their interest in taking over the management of Skopje and Ohrid airports,” Janakievski said, noting the tender for gathering bids will be launched later this year.

Macedonia will offer a twenty year concession for the airports and the successful company will be expected to modernise the infrastructure at both airports and expand the runway at Skopje.

The Transport Ministry says this has the potential to radically increase the frequency of passengers at the terminals.

In addition to the concession for the two existing airports, the chosen company will also have to participate in the construction of a third airport intended for cargo transport near the eastern Macedonian town of Stip, the ministry said.

It is hoped the airport will ease the movement of Macedonia’s agricultural goods to foreign markets.

No comments: