KAA | Vice President CATIC International pays a courtesy call on the Managing Director

Vice President CATIC International pays a courtesy call on the Managing Director - Kenya Airports Authority

Vice President CATIC International pays a courtesy call on the Managing Director - Kenya Airports Authority
Date Posted: 29 Jun, 2010

KAA Managing Director Eng. Stephen Gichuki (right) and The visiting Vice President of CATIC International Engineering (K) Ltd Mr. Liu Rongchun(centre) when they paid him a courtesy call at KAA head Office

The visiting Vice President of CATIC International Engineering (K) Ltd, Mr. Liu Rongchun paid a courtesy call on the Managing Director Kenya Airports Authority Mr. Stephen Gichuki on the 24th of June 2010 to discuss the upcoming phase two expansion project of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. He was accompanied by Mr. Cheng Baozhong Managing Director CATIC International, Huang Hongyou Managing Director CATIC Kenya, and He Feng General Manager CATIC Kenya.

On welcoming the Vice President to Kenya Airports Authority the Managing Director Mr. Stephen Gichuki said “Kenya Airports Authority is looking forward to implementing phase two of the expansion project of JKIA. I have a lot of confidence in CATIC international, as I visited the projects in Tanzania and Dubai and was impressed with them, and level of workmanship. We also noted with admiration the enthusiasm and motivation of the workers and expect the same dedication with the JKIA project. Good management and consultation is key to the success of every project. In my various discussions with the CATIC Kenya project manager, his keen understanding of every detail, have inspired my confidence in his management. Kenya Airports Authority will work closely with CATIC Engineering Kenya and provide them with all the necessary support so as to realize the project objective.”

While thanking the Managing director KAA for his warm welcome the vice President CATIC International said “ Since we started discussions for the project, the cooperation from Kenya Airports Authority has been very good. We have already relocated our main engineers from CATIC International Beijing to Kenya, and the equipment is on site. This morning we met with the Prime Minister the Right Honorable Raila Odinga, who reiterated the importance of the JKIA project to Kenya. I believe that this is just the beginning of a good working relationship, and we look forward to further collaboration with Kenya Airports Authority.

Following the courtesy call the Managing Director Kenya Airports Authority and the visiting Vice President visited the construction site, for the proposed multi-storey car park where Managing Director KAA met the workers and viewed the equipment. Mr. Stephen Gichuki told the team that the project would be implemented in phases in order as not to disrupt operations at the Airport. “Phase 1 of the rehabilitation project, which was commissioned by His Excellency the President of Kenya, Hon Mwai Kibaki on the 29th of September 2006, at a cost of 2.6 billion, is now complete and in use, and it is for this reason that we are embarking on phase two of the project.” He urged them to meet the timeline set for the completion of phase two of the upgrading and rehabilitation of JKIA.

M/S CATIC is the contractor for phase two of the rehabilitation project of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Phase two Contract comprises the construction of Unit 4 terminal building and multi-storey car park with a capacity to accommodate 1,500 parking slots while new surface parking bays are estimated at 400 bringing the total to 1,900 parking bays up from the present 1,750 parking slots. The terminal building, estimated to cover 16,000 m², will increase the airport capacity and improve traffic movements. Unit 4 apron approximated to cover 156,600 m² will have 21 additional parking bays to enhance ramp operations capacity, and the Terminal 4 building will have 7 new air bridges upon completion. Phase II will be constructed at a cost of about USD 95 million, of which the French Development Agency( AFD) will finance 81% and the World Bank 19%.

Early this week Kenya Airports Authority signed a technical and project management agreement grant with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for USD 6 million (Kshs.480 Million). This grant is towards a support program to minimize disruption during the upgrading and rehabilitation of the airport.