Somalia: Puntland commences work on ambitious airport project

GAROWE, Somalia, December 26, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Puntland government in northern Somalia has laid foundation for the construction of paved runway, air traffic control devices, parking lots, and lighting, fire and rescue stations on Saturday, Garowe Online reports.

The ambitious improvement project will drag on for a year, just a few weeks after first phase of Bossaso airport upgrade came to an end in the Gulf of Aden port city of Bossaso.

Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali alongside Former President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole, Vice President Abdihakin Abdullahi Haji Omar and Parliament Speaker has laid first stones on the perimeter of airport poised to be classy air traffic hub at the beginning of 2017.

Turkish contracting Firm, SMK Group won the tender worth a total of $6 million, with Kuwaiti Nabeel Abdul-Raheem Consulting Firm (NARCO) awarded consultancy in the course of the project.

Turkish contractors shipped heavy machineries and other equipment from neighboring Djibouti earlier this month.

Garowe airport General Manager Abdirashid Jama Mohamed welcomed renovation works, asking regional administration to step in for suburb neighborhoods spanning into the airport-something heeded with attention by attending Nugal Governor and Garowe Mayor.

Well known Nugal clan elder, Suldan Saed Mohamed Garase said, they were really moved by flagship renovation.

Garase encouraged business community members not to mince propping up USD 6 million granted in loan to Somalia by Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) in October 2013.

Puntland ex-President Farole whose government initiated Garowe airport upgrade project has recalled challenges faced at its inception stage.

Meanwhile, President Ali emphasized that his government will be expediting more energy and keeping closer eye on the day-to-day progress in project.

GAROWE ONLINE