By Albert Mwazighe

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The Tanzania Ministry of Works and Transport through the Tanzania Airports Authority is inviting applications for the development of a commercial complex and its associated facilities, and a four-star hotel at the Julius Nyerere International Airport through a public private partnership agreement.

Despite the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) pegging recovery of the airline industry earliest by 2024, the Tanzania government hopes the development at JNIA will boost business activities at the airport. The region’s aviation industry has not been spared by the global pandemic and airlines are operating at bare minimum.

“It is expected that this project will give our customers and passengers a wider choice and better range of services that meet their satisfaction while also assisting Tanzania Airports Authority to generate more revenue aimed at improving airport services,” said the notice to investors.

The winning applications from an internationally competitive selection will be invited to bid for the tenders on November 22.

The winning bidders are expected to design and build the facilities, while the Tanzania Airports Authority will finance, operate and maintain them.

The four-star hotel is expected to boost revenue obtained from tourism and hospitality activities.

Kenya Airways launched the Fahari Innovation Hub, a centre that will enable the airline, through partnerships with start-ups, to identify new avenues of revenue generation, leveraging on new technologies. The facility will also be instrumental in providing start-ups and SMEs with opportunities to access markets within the entire value chain of the aviation sector, which includes airports, the food industry and tourism.

“There is a need to invent new ways for the future to be able to respond as flexibly as possible to changing times and diverse opportunities. Through the hub we hope to see provision of upskilling, employment opportunities, community growth as well as support to local universities, enterprises and SMEs as we contribute to the sustainable development of Africa,” said Kenya’s Minister for ICT and Innovation Joseph Mucheru, speaking at the launch.

“At the pace at which change accelerates, especially now in the middle of a global pandemic, we have become increasingly aware of the need to be innovative as we position the business as a resilient, forward-looking and sustainable company with a deliberate inclusive agenda of empowering, partnering and co-creating with the society around us,” said KQ CEO Allan Kilavuka.