Maldives, China eye bridge project for airport in capital city

[TaiShang]

Maldives, China eye bridge project for Male airport | The BRICS Post

Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L) and his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom jointly inaugurate a housing unit project in Male, Maldives, Sept. 15, 2014 [Xinhua]


Maldives and China on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a pre-feasibility study of a proposed bridge connecting the international airport to capital Male.

The contract to expand Male airport has been given to Beijing Urban Construction Group Company Limited after the Maldivian government cancelled a $511 million deal with an Indian firm two years ago.

“The bridge project is high on the Maldivian government’s priority list. Most of the preparation work is now complete,” said Maldives Housing Minister Mohamed Muiz who signed the agreement on Tuesday with Chinese officials.

China has been the biggest source of tourism in Maldives for the past four years, according to the Foreign Ministry in Beijing.

The estimated cost of the project is expected to be announced shortly.

The preliminary study will be followed by a project feasibility study and a design plan after which the two governments will explore options to finance the project, said the Maldives Minister.

During a visit to the strategic island nation in September, Chinese President Xi Jinping suggested the bridge be named “China-Maldives Friendship Bridge”.

The planned bridge was first announced during former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s reelection campaign in 2008. The island economy is struggling with high levels of debt and a lack of foreign currency reserves.

Chinese President Xi Jinping had secured Maldives’ backing in September for his plan to build a “Maritime Silk Road”.

“China will encourage more Chinese enterprises to actively engage in the economic transformation of Maldives,” Xi said.

 

[terranMarine]

fingers crossed, hope we'll get the project

 

[TaiShang]

I am sure will get it. Mr. Xi even has a name for it

 

[Keel]

Congratulations to Maldives' proper choice for excellence finally

 

[TaiShang]

Congratulations to Maldives' proper choice for excellence finally

They will get the best for the every penny spent. That's guaranteed.

 

[cirr]

Less time、less money and less hassle。

 

[Keel]

They will get the best for the every penny spent. That's guaranteed.

I think they have gotten valuable insider tip from their S Lankan brothers.

 

[TaiShang]

I think they have gotten valuable insider tip from their S Lankan brothers.

Talking about Sri Lanka...

Sri Lanka-China FTA ‘very exciting’: SLCBC head
FRIDAY, 05 DECEMBER 2014 06:05

Dec. 05, 2014 (LBT) - President of the Sri Lanka – China business Council Navindra Abeysekera stresses the importance of enhanced relationship between the businessmen of both countries, as the two nations are heading to sign an FTA, which Abeysekera points out, is ‘Very Exciting”.

“We are about to now start a new journey with China, which will be linked to free trade agreement and is very excited about what is ahead of us,” said the President of the Ceylon Chamber led Council, who addressed a group of Chinese businessmen, who arrived in Sri Lanka from the Yunnan Province.

Despite the excitement, Mr. Abeysekera said, that one of the problems that is hindering the growth of the business between the two nations are the lack of information on certain vital business areas.

“One of the biggest problems, we are facing right now is some of the biggest companies operating in Sri Lanka do not know what are the biggest and established companies in China and the Chinese businesses too faces the same problem,” he said.

He stressed the importance of building a mechanism to create a better communication channel between the two business communities, thus helping to take advantage of the upcoming opportunities.

Mr. Abeysekera was addressing a 18 member business delegation arrived from Yunnan province looking for trade and investment opportunities in the country, which was led by Su Guangping, Secretary General of Yunnan Provincial General Chamber of Commerce.

The delegation consisted of members from multiple of business areas in China such as Petrochemical, Tourism, Tea and Medicine, etc.

Sri Lanka – China Business Council showed that Chinese investors can work on areas such as food production, glass, personal care, dairy and many more with the Lankan counterparts.

Several committee members of the Sri Lanka – China Business Council were present during the meeting. Visit Sri Lanka - China Business Council