Oman Airports to support the development of Kilimanjaro International Airport
Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan has just completed a three-day state visit to the Sultanate of Oman. During her stay (from 12 to 14 June), the two countries, which have long and rich diplomatic relations, signed half a dozen memoranda of understanding, one of which covers the air transport sector.
On Monday 13 June, Oman Airports signed a memorandum of understanding with Kilimanjaro Airports Development Company (KADCO), a wholly state-owned entity, for the development of infrastructure at Kilimanjaro International Airport. The commitment was made in Muscat on the sidelines of President Samia Suluhu Hassan's state visit.
Under the agreement, the Omani airport operator will oversee the development of a VVIP terminal and the cargo hangar at the airport. It is also planned to build a five-star hotel, a business park, a shopping centre, as well as staff training. This partnership aims to ensure the provision of high-level services to increase the Tanzanian government's revenue, explains Oman Airports.
Kilimanjaro International Airport is located 35km from Moshi and 45km from Arusha. Over the years, the hub has earned the label 'Gateway to Africa's Wildlife Heritage'. This label has been attached to the airport because of its exceptional role in the development of the Tanzanian tourism sector. With its 3600m runway, Kilimanjaro is now connected to Europe, America, the Middle East and Asia mainly by charter flights.
As a reminder, Tanzania and the Sultanate of Oman are connected by direct flights through Oman Air which offers several weekly flights to Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar. Other agreements signed between the two countries cover energy, tourism, natural resources, higher education, training and national museums. The two countries have also agreed to set up a joint investment fund.
