- Chinese firms dominate the shortlist for Ethiopia’s $12.5 billion airport project.
- The shortlist includes 12 Chinese companies and joint ventures.
- Bidders are competing for four main works packages for the airport.
- Ethiopian Airlines has delayed contractor selection until January 2027.
- Washington is seeking US participation linked to Boeing aircraft orders.
Chinese companies or joint ventures involving Chinese firms represent the majority of the shortlisted positions for the construction of Ethiopia’s $12.5 billion Bishoftu International Airport. The shortlist, released by Ethiopian Airlines, includes China Communications Construction Company, China Construction Eighth Engineering Division, China Road and Bridge Corporation, and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, among others. Chinese companies represent the biggest single-country group by a significant margin.
The remaining bidders include firms from Türkiye, Italy, France, Qatar, South Korea, the United States, Portugal, Russia, India, and Ethiopia-Djibouti. Bidders are competing for four main works packages covering the airport’s main terminal facilities, support facilities, airfield and infrastructure works, and offsite transport links. Ethiopian Airlines has delayed selecting the final contractors until early January 2027 after bidders requested more time to prepare proposals and arrange financing for the multibillion-dollar project.
Washington is trying to secure US participation in the project by linking it to additional Boeing aircraft for Ethiopian Airlines. The Bishoftu International Airport project represents a major infrastructure investment for Ethiopia, with the new facility set to serve as a hub for Ethiopian Airlines. The shortlist reflects the global interest in the project, with Chinese firms positioned as the leading contenders for the construction contracts.
