The Corporation Americacontrolling holding company of Eduardo Eurnekian Airports Argentina 2000 and other airport concessions, has just set foot on the African continent as “preferred bidder” to win the concession of two airports in Nigeria.
“The Consortium in which the company will have a 51% stake has been declared by the Federal Government of Nigeria as the preferred bidder for the concessions of the airports and cargo terminals of Abuja and Kano”it said in a statement on the New York Stock Exchange, where it is listed.
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria, with a single runway airport for large aircraft and the concession contract is for 20 years. Kano is the second largest city in that oil-producing country, whose airport has two smaller runways than Abuja’s. In this case, the concession agreement is for 30 years.
Corporación América’s partners in Africa will be companies Mota-Engil, Engenharia e Construção África SA and Mota-Engil Nigeria Limited.
Although the consortium has already managed to be chosen for its technical-financial offer, the steps to close the contract are still missing. “This step initiates the process during which the Consortium and the Federal Ministry of Aviation and the Federal Airports Authority will review and negotiate together the final terms and conditions of the concession agreements,” the statement added.
“With this important announcement, we now enter a phase where we will discuss and negotiate final terms of the concession agreements with the Nigerian authorities,” he said Martin Eurnekiangrandson of Eduardo and CEO of Corporación América Airports, the airport arm of Corporación America.
“Provided we are awarded the concessions, we will further expand our portfolio to 55 airportsin seven countries on four different continents,” added Eurnekian, who is also president of Aeropuertos Argentina 2000, the 37 airports in the country, most of which are licensed by late 90s.
In total, Corporación América Airports is the operator of 53 airports in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Armenia and Italy.
Source: Clarin
