Middle East investors will be given a chance to participate in a public-private partnership project set to transform India`s oldest airport at Nagpur into an international passenger and cargo hub.

The Rs.10 billion project to upgrade the existing airport facilities at Nagpur and construct an adjacent Special Economic Zone will be unveiled at the fifth Airport Build & Supply Exhibition, taking place from 23-25 May at Airport Expo Dubai.

Featuring housing facilities for IT companies, finance and banking services providers, a jewellery park and textile zone as well as other export facilities, the Special Economic Zone will contribute to the growth of air traffic from the airport, which is expected to reach 14 million passengers per year by 2030.

We chose to participate in the Airport Build & Supply Exhibition as it is an excellent platform to get in touch with investors who have the experience and financial and technical capabilities to handle the project, said R.C. Sinha, Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Maharashtra Airport Development Company, a special-purpose government company responsible for the implementation of the project.

Sinha will be addressing an audience of airport suppliers at what has become the region`s leading specialised event, designed to introduce the latest in airport technology and services to the region`s airport decision-makers, engineers and planners.

Sinha and his team will also be using the event to source builders and consultants for the project as well as providers of goods such as conveyor belts, escalators and other goods needed to fit out passenger holding areas and cargo facilities.

Phase one of the project involves extending the existing airstrip and upgrading it to handle third-generation aircraft, expanding the terminal building and installing air bridges. Construction is expected to start within three months with completion scheduled for 2009. The second phase of the project will be completed by 2035 and will involve building a second airstrip as well as a new terminal building.

Earlier this month, Bechtel Aviation, which handles the engineering, project and construction management contract for Qatar`s New Doha International Airport, announced it will use the Airport Build & Supply Exhibition to source suppliers for the massive-scale project with tenders worth up to US$2 billion still to be announced.

We have secured an impressive line-up of over 300 exhibitors at the event this year and this makes it the perfect meeting place for airport industry decision-makers to meet and do business, said Nick Webb, director, Streamline Marketing, organisers of the three-day event.

All exhibitors will have pre-arranged meetings with the relevant project manager, engineer or architect on the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation`s expansion team, enabling them to discuss Dubai International Airport`s expansion as well as the recently-announced Jebel Ali Airport.

Held under the patronage of H.H.Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Department of Civil Aviation, Dubai and chairman of Emirates Group, the exhibition also enjoys the support of Europe`s four leading airport suppliers` associations - French Airport & ATC Technology (PROAVIA), German Airport Technology & Equipment (GATE), British Airports Group and Netherlands Airport Technology (NAT).