SomalilandPress, HARGEISA
— Somaliland Minister of Aviation formally launched a USD 10 million programme to modernise and upgrade two existing airports in the country on Tuesday.
Speaking at a ceremony held at Egal International airport, Mr Mohamoud Hashi Abdi told local media that Hargeisa’s main Egal International airport and the main port of Berbera will be rehabilitated in the coming months. He said the Kuwaiti government will be providing all the $10million funds needed to improve the airports’ capacities, terminals, runways and the security to comply with International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) standards.
He added the Kuwaiti government will supervise and oversee the projects as well as providing technical assistance and capacity building through their non-profit organization, the Kuwait Foudation.
Kuwait Foundation is a private, non-profit organization and is chaired by H. H. the Amir of the State of Kuwait. A delegation from the foundation is due to arrive in the country in the next forthnight to assess the airports.
The Minister has been abroad for the last two weeks visiting the Middle East and the UK. He has been pushing for developments for all airports in the country. As soon as he took oath, after his party came to power in July, the minister quickly reversed years of neglect for Burao airport and reopened the facility in early this year.
It is not clear if the new administration will use designs and blue prints for Egal International Airport from the previous regime, who produced a number of designs before their depature from office.
Somaliland airports have became under pressure from recent increase in traffic due to many Somaliland Diasporas returning home and the region becoming a gateway to connect Asia, Africa and Europe.
As well as these airports, Kuwait also helps Somaliland in the fields of health and humanitarian reliefs.
Honestly, I have yet to see any major changes or reforms under the current gov. Yes the previous riyaale gov was corrupt, lakiin a 10 million dollar (which isn;t a lot of money as airports come) airport is not change or progress. There is huge unemployment and joblessness is on the rise. The current administration should invest in Health and education as well as spend time and effort on trying to get investment from foreign countries to start factories and manufactoring plants. European countries donating tractors out of pity isn't progress, relying on the unpredictable lifestock export (which isn't very lucrative) isn't progress. We need a more enterprising attitude, I don't want our country to be like djibouti and almost every other african country i.e. the bottom the barrel. 