Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAKAR612
2006-03-09 12:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dakar
Cable title:  

IMI: THE SENEGALESE GOVERNMENT INVITES EXPRESSIONS

Tags:  BEXP EAIR EINV SG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3499
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHDK #0612/01 0681231
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091231Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4524
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 0757
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA PRIORITY 0093
RUEHMT/AMCONSUL MONTREAL PRIORITY 0059
RUEHLMC/MCC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 000612 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

USDOC FOR 3131/OIO/ANESA/MSTAUNTON/GLITMAN
USDOC FOR 4510/IEP/ANESA/OA/PMICHELINI
USDOC FOR 3140/ODO/BANDERSON
STATE FOR EB/CBA, EB/IFD/OIA, AF/EPS AND AF/W
ECOWAS POSTS FOR ECONOMIC/COMMERCIAL OFFICERS
MONTREAL FOR US MISSION TO ICAO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP EAIR EINV SG
SUBJECT: IMI: THE SENEGALESE GOVERNMENT INVITES EXPRESSIONS
OF INTEREST FOR THE PROJECT DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT OF THE
BLAISE DIAGNE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

DAKAR 00000612 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 000612

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

USDOC FOR 3131/OIO/ANESA/MSTAUNTON/GLITMAN
USDOC FOR 4510/IEP/ANESA/OA/PMICHELINI
USDOC FOR 3140/ODO/BANDERSON
STATE FOR EB/CBA, EB/IFD/OIA, AF/EPS AND AF/W
ECOWAS POSTS FOR ECONOMIC/COMMERCIAL OFFICERS
MONTREAL FOR US MISSION TO ICAO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP EAIR EINV SG
SUBJECT: IMI: THE SENEGALESE GOVERNMENT INVITES EXPRESSIONS
OF INTEREST FOR THE PROJECT DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT OF THE
BLAISE DIAGNE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

DAKAR 00000612 001.2 OF 002



1. SUMMARY: President Wade,s dream project to build a new
airport in Diass, a rural community located 45 kilometers
(km) from Dakar, Senegal,s capital, is coming true. The
Senegalese government, through Senegal,s Investment
Promotion Agency (APIX),has set the stage first by creating
&Aeroport International Blaise Diagne SA8 (AIBD SA),a
public-private company in charge of financing, construction
and development of the new Blaise Diagne airport. APIX is
calling for expressions of interest from companies or
consortia in the airport development and management business.
The new Blaise Diagne Airport is expected to accommodate 3
million passengers the first year of operation. Its planned
construction has become a de-facto cornerstone for both the
government,s overall economic development strategy and its
long-term strategy to position Dakar as a hub of economic and
commercial activities in the sub-region. END SUMMARY.

APIX,S LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR BOT PROJECTS
--------------

2. The new international airport is a flagship of Senegal,s
infrastructure projects. After numerous false starts, it
seems that things are on the right track. Recent legislation
passed in February 2004 approved the bill establishing the
regulatory framework for Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT)
infrastructure projects. The Parliament also established an
Infrastructure Council, made up of 12 members, among which
are 3 magistrates, 3 parliamentarians, members of the civil
society and the private sector. The Council will ensure
transparency and open procurement for Government projects.
Both laws are now in place to promote a transparent
regulatory environment expected to pave the way for
Private-Public-Partnerships.

APIX Creates AIBD SA ...
--------------

3. In February 2006, APIX created Aeroport International
Blaise Diagne (AIBD SA),a public private company )- owned

45 percnt by the Government and 55 percent by private
entities -) charged with financing, construction and
development of the new Blaise Diagne airport. AIBD SA
reflects the spirit of the Public-Private-Partnership.

AND WORKS WITH MOROCCAN BMCE FOR STRUCTURED-FINANCE
-------------- --------------

4. Lacking the money to build a new airport, the Senegalese
Government with the assistance of a Moroccan investment bank
)- BMCE )- devised a scheme to levy passenger charges of 30
euros per ticket on international flights from/to Senegal,
and euro 1 per ticket on national destinations. This
financing scheme was established in April 2005. According to
BMCE, during the first year of implementation, 22.5 million
euros, based on 750,000 passengers, will be raised.
Estimates of the cost of the project are in the neighborhood
of 259 million euros, out of which 220 million will be
debt-financed and the remaining 39 million will be financed
by the private sector.

A NEW AIRPORT TO MEET GROWING DEMAND
--------------

5. Once completed, the new airport will replace Dakar,s
Leopold Sedar Senghor (LSS) airport, which, in 2005, handled
1,480,000 passengers and moved more than 25,000 metric tons
of international freight. Airport officials predict
passenger traffic growth of 4 percent annually, which is more
than the LSS airport can handle with only two runways and 15
parking bays for commercial planes. At current traffic
rates, the existing airport will reach capacity in five
years. Senegal,s strategic location on the westernmost
point in Africa makes it a natural hub for West Africa and a
major stopover and refueling point for commercial and
military aircraft continuing on to other African countries.
Senegal is a major tourist destination, and government
officials hope to increase the number of tourists in Senegal
to 600,000 in 2006, up from 500,000 in 2004-2005.

BLAISE DIAGNE AND THE MCA PROPOSAL
--------------

6. The construction of the airport in Diass falls under

DAKAR 00000612 002.2 OF 002


urban plans to move development off Dakar,s Cap Vert
peninsula into the mainland toward Thies, Dakar,s second
largest city. Diass ties in perfectly with Senegal,s
Millenium Challenge Account (MCA) proposal to implement the
Diamniadio industrial platform on 2,500 hectares not far from
the new airport site. The on-going construction of a new
highway between Dakar and Thies will improve traffic flow
between Dakar and Diass.

BID SPECIFICATIONS
--------------

7. The selected airport management company will assist AIBD
SA in the following:

-- validation of the master plan,
-- final design of the Blaise Diagne airport and,
-- finalization of the specs document for the selection of
the construction firm


8. Airport management companies willing to respond to this
offer may form a consortium or act individually. They have
to demonstrate international experience through similar
management contracts with passenger volumes in excess of 5
million annually. They must provide proof and references
demonstrating their qualifications for the above-mentioned
services. They must detail the airport projects in which
they have been involved and the services offered, the
countries of operation and the main conditions of their
intervention.


9. The deadline for submission is Friday, March 27, at 1700
Dakar time (GMT). All proposals must be inserted in a sealed
envelope with &Aeroport International Blaise Diagne: Avis
d,appel a manifestation d,interet ) Selection d,un
gestionnaire8 and sent to:

AIBD SA c/o BMCE Capital
Avenue Abdoulaye Fadiga
Immeuble Abdou Lahat Mbacke
B.P. 50275
Dakar
Tel: 221-889-05-05
Fax: 221-842-59-99
Email: a.chmanti@bmcek.com.sn
JACKSON