Italian industrial and financial firms stand ready for the $12.5 billion Bishoftu International Airport project tender. Ethiopian authorities have yet to issue the official tender. Italian representatives say technical and financial preparations are complete.
Italian companies have completed technical and financial preparations to bid on the Bishoftu International Airport project. The initiative, valued at $12.5 billion, encompasses airport infrastructure, main terminal construction, and integrated logistics zones. Italy's SACE and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) have established the necessary financial backing.
Claudio Pasqualucci, Trade Promotion Commissioner at the Italian Embassy in Addis Ababa, stated, “The commencement of the work depends entirely on the Ethiopian authorities.” He highlighted that Italian firms offer integrated financing and engineering, easing Ethiopia's budget constraints. “We are all active and on standby,” Pasqualucci added.
The project will be divided into multiple technical sectors, enabling local and international participation in runway construction, terminal systems, and logistics. Design work nears completion as authorities identify lead contractors. A high-level dialogue on March 18, 2026, in Rome between Ethiopian Finance Minister Ahmed Shide and Italy’s Mattei Plan Task Force addressed Bishoftu funding.
This airport effort aligns with Italy's Mattei Plan for African infrastructure cooperation. Bilateral trade reached 450 million euros in 2025, with expectations to double in three years.