Mr Bulent Kilincarslan is in Banjul following a call by President Jammeh for Turks to invest in The Gambia. He arrived Monday evening at the invitation of the Turkish ambassador to The Gambia, Ergin Soner, to explore investment opportunities in The Gambia.
Announcing the plans for construction of the new airport, Turkish chief diplomat to The Gambia, Ergin Soner said the founder and owner of Kaunta Company has expressed his desire to build the airport after approval is granted by authorities in Banjul.
Mr Kilincarslan, the founder of Kaunta Company said he met with officials at the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority with regard to the possibility of establishing an aviation training school.
During a state visit to Turkey early this year, President Jammeh extended an invitation to the members of the business community from the trans-continental nation to explore the vast opportunities in The Gambia. Since then, there has been a steady stream of Turkish investors visiting Banjul.
The Kaunta is a general construction company but it specializes in airport construction. It also has its own jets and air ambulances.
Due to the company’s international recognition, it has been awarded many contracts to construct airports in different countries, the latest being Tanzania and Uganda.
Ambassador Soner said: “Based on instructions by His Excellency the President of the Republic of The Gambia for me to find the right person with the right company to construct a second modern airport in The Gambia, I could not find someone better than Mr Bulent Kilincarslan and his Kuanta Construction Company.”
Ambassador Soner expressed gratitude to Kuanta for honouring his invitation to visit The Gambia, the second in six months.
He also noted that the company has interest in some of the ongoing projects of the existing airport, like the cargo complex project. Kuanta said they are ready to provide full financing for the construction of the second modern airport.
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