New Zealand-based Hawkins Infrastructure has signed an $80 million deal with Airports Fiji Limited to modernize Nadi International Airport.
AFL Executive Chairman Faiz Khan says the entire modernization of thr airport has been budgeted to cost $102 million.
Khan says they have secured a loan of $85 million from their financial partners Westpac to undertake the modernization.
“It took us a bit more than 6 months to decide on the contractor that we chose for the Nadi Airport Modernization Project and it was a big occasion for us. You may ask why did it take 6 months. It was important to us that we partner with a contractor that we believe will deliver. So it’s easy to enter into a contractor but it’s the job that comes after that is the most important part of that contract.”
The company will partner with local construction company, Pacific Building Solutions to undertake the project.
Hawkins Infrastructure Executive General Manager, Brian FitzGerald and PBS signed the contract with AFL last night in the presence of the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Sayed-Khaiyum says previously state owned enterprises were reliant on grants and AFL has demonstrated the ability to run their business like a private company.
Work is expected to begin within the next four weeks and is expected to conclude in 16 months.
The government has also approved a duty-free concession for all materials that will be imported for the modernization project.
