April 21 (SeeNews) - A consortium led by Swiss-based Mabco Constructions, a subsidiary of Mabetex Group, has signed a contract for the construction of an international airport near Albania’s southwestern port city of Vlora, Mabco Constructions said.
The airport, which will include a 3.2-kilometre runway, is expected to serve up to 2 million passengers per year, Mabco Constructions said in a statement.
The airport will be the country's first to offer aircraft maintenance services.
Construction is expected to start within 14 months, daily Tirana Times reported on Tuesday.
The consortium led by Mabco Constructions, which also comprises Turkish company YDA Group and Kosovo-based 2A Group, won a 103.9 million euro ($124.8 million) tender for the construction, operation and maintenance of the Vlora airport in March.
The tender was launched in late 2019 after the Albanian government failed to conclude negotiations with a Turkish consortium for the construction of the airport.
The Lugano-headquartered Mabetex Group is controlled by Kosovo Albanian businessman and politician Behgjet Pacolli.
($ = 0.8326 euro)