Airways Wins Iranian Airport Expansion Project

Airways Wins Iranian Airport Expansion Project
Friday, 5 December 2003, 9:41 am
Press Release: Airways New Zealand  

Airways New Zealand has won a major consulting project in Iran to assist with 
the expansion of the airport on Qeshm Island, two kilometres off Iran's 
southern coast. 

Airways International - Airways New Zealand's international arm, together with 
Malaysian based Leading Edge Aviation Planning Professional, have already 
prepared an Airport Master Plan for the airport for the Qeshm Investment 
Development Organisation, proposing a wide range of opportunities for 
commercial development for the airport and areas for improvement to ensure that 
it met international civil aviation requirements.

The Iranian Government is developing Qeshm Island as a major free trade zone of 
industry, commerce, tourism and duty free shopping. To support these economic 
growth activities, the Island's 4200m runway - already one of the longest in 
the Middle East - is being expanded. 

Airways International has now been commissioned to provide a further 18 months 
of project management and consulting services to improve and prepare the 
facilities for the expansion.

Airways New Zealand's Middle East Marketing Manager, Mike Tournier, thanked the 
New Zealand Embassy in Tehran and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) for 
their support in winning this contract. 

"NZTE first spotted this opportunity and drew it to our attention, and the 
Tehran Embassy has since given us very valuable support at key moments. 
Ambassador Niels Holm met and held discussions with our contacts, and helped 
clinch the deal by attending the final presentation we made to the Qeshm 
authorities."

"Not all exporters realise what a terrific asset New Zealand's Embassies 
overseas can be in helping exporters like us establish our credibility with 
government organisations in other countries. And the Tehran Embassy has done 
everything possible to facilitate our marketing effort in Iran," said Mr 
Tournier. 

Gavin Young, NZTE Senior Trade Commissioner for Middle East & South Asia says 
while doing business with Iran is certainly different than other markets, it is 
a matter of New Zealand businesses understanding how the market works.

"There are a number of New Zealand companies selling very successfully to Iran 
and Iranians value their relationship with New Zealand suppliers. Because of 
the sometimes complex nature of doing business and the less familiar banking 
system, Iran is a market for experienced exporters like Airways International."

Mr Young says in recent years New Zealand exports to Iran have moved from being 
dominated by the meat and dairy trade to include increasing volumes of 
technology and consultancy related products and services. In 2002 New Zealand's 
merchandise exports to Iran were worth $98.8 million, up 51% on the previous 
year.

ENDS


Background Information:

Lying only two kilometers of the southern coast of Iran in the Strait of 
Hormuz, Qeshm Island is being developed by the Iranian government as a major 
free trade zone of industry, commerce, tourism and duty free shopping by the 
Qeshm Free Authority (QFA). Industrial development has already commenced on the 
island, while the airport is to be expanded to support the island's economic 
growth activities to the site. A new airport along with a small passenger 
terminal opened on the island in 1997, providing at 4200m one of the longest 
runways in the Middle East.

Airways International, together with Malaysian based Leading Edge Aviation 
Planning Professional (LEAPP) prepared an Airport Master Plan for Qeshm 
International Airport under a commission from the Qeshm Investment Development 
Organisation (QIDO). The master plan proposed a wide range of opportunities for 
commercial development for the airport but also identified areas for 
improvement to ensure that the current and future infrastructure meet 
international civil aviation requirements. Subsequently as part of the ongoing 
commercialisation strategy for the airport, Airways International has been 
commissioned to provide 18 months of project management and consulting services 
to improve and prepare the facilities for expansion. These services include 
Aerodrome Certification, Airport Hazards Identification, Asset Valuations, 
Telecom and Power review

Assisting Airways in providing these services are LEAPP, Beca Ltd. and 
Teleconsultants New Zealand Ltd. Air services already link Qeshm to Tehran, and 
to Iran's other domestic ports, as well as to the nearby airports of Dubai, Ras 
Al Khaimah and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. With the benefit of the 
planned road/rail bridge to the mainland and the opening of a deepwater 
container port, the aim is to develop Qeshm Island as a primary logistical hub 
between Asia and Europe. 

 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dc/dcboard.php

*****************************************