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Archive -Seychelles

New extension of air cargo terminal opens |14 September 2013

The newly completed first phase of the air cargo terminal at the Seychelles International Airport at Pointe Larue was officially opened yesterday morning.

Home Affairs and Transport Minister Joël Morgan cut the ribbon to open the new facilities in the presence of Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) chief executive Gilbert Faure, Patrick Hoareau general manager for airport management who managed the project, David Changty-Young, the architect and consultant for the project, and Pravin Darad the managing director of Allied Builders, the contractors undertaking the project.

The ribbon-cutting followed the official handing over of the keys of the newly completed facilities to Mr Faure by Mr Darad.

Among other guests and members of staff who witnessed the event were the principal secretary for transport Terrence Mondon and the chief executive of Air Seychelles Cramer Ball.

When addressing guests and all those present, Mr Hoareau said work on this important first phase of the cargo terminal and customs building extension and renovation project at the Seychelles International Airport started in October last year.

“This completion will now allow us to move on to phase three. Work on phase two which is the extension and renovation of the customs building is also ongoing and temporary facilities have been provided for customs operations in the meantime and these are behind the airport fire station,” Mr Hoareau explained.

He added that the completed phase one comprises processing offices for customs, Air Seychelles, the National Drugs Enforcement Agency (NDEA) and aviation security which has a key role to play in customs and cargo handling operations.

“There is also a brand new warehouse with an area of almost 600 square metres and in addition to that a new export area of around 250 square metres has been built,” he pointed out.
Mr Hoareau explained that the new modern and spacious facilities bring Seychelles’ air cargo handling operations in line with international norms and standards.

Meanwhile, Mr Hoareau said work is well ahead on phase two of the project and is expected to be completed by the end of November.

Mr Hoareau took the opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved in the project for their support, understanding and cooperation and teamwork and called on them for their continued support which he stressed is essential for the successful end to the entire project.

Architect Changty-Young said the construction period has not been easy for the contractors and the consultants especially when certain areas had to be closed and their functions and operations had to be shifted to other areas.



“But all along the cooperation of everybody has helped a lot,” he said thanking all those involved.

For his part, Mr Faure said the completion of this first phase of the project is proof that “the SCAA’s vision is slowly being realized”.
“What we had set as targets 15 to 20 years back are slowly coming to fruition,” he said.

Guests were afterwards taken on a guided tour of the new facilities by Mr Hoareau.

Meanwhile, the move to the new facilities started soon after the official hand-over and opening of the facilities yesterday and will continue  over the weekend to ensure that on Monday service delivery to customers will start in the new terminal.

 

 

 

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