World Bank signs US$72 million grant agreement for reconstruction of Princess Juliana airport

World Bank signs US$72 million grant agreement for reconstruction of Princess Juliana airport

The World Bank and the Government of Sint Maarten signed a US$72 million grant agreement for the Sint Maarten Airport Terminal Reconstruction Project which aims to restore full service at the Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten.

The Project is a tripartite initiative that includes a US$72 million grant from the Sint Maarten Recovery and Reconstruction Trust Fund financed by the Netherlands Government and managed by the World Bank, US$50 million from the European Investment Bank and US$7 million from the Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company (PIJAE).

“The project aims to restore the airport terminal to its pre-hurricane capacity of 2.5 million passengers per year. It also uses ‘building back better principles’ to strengthen resilience to future extreme weather events, thereby supporting continuity of services for an airport that is a critical link for regional transportation,” said Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean.

The Project presents a comprehensive package of financial and technical support including financing for PJIAE’s operational costs in the event of weather-related calamities during reconstruction, airport staff capacity development and management training, and institutional and governance strengthening. All activities will be undertaken in accordance with World Bank’s fiduciary, social and environmental requirements.

Original source: World Bank
Published on 09 December 2019