TUNIS, March 1 (Xinhua) -- The Tunisian authorities said on Thursday that the country will build a new airport that meets international standards by 2030.
The announcement was made by Tunisian Minister of Transport Radhouan Ayara at a press conference in the capital Tunis.
With an estimated cost of 2,047 million dinars (840 million U.S. dollars), the new civilian airport will be the 10th in the North African country, said Ayara.
The airport will be located in the province of Bizerte, about 80 km north of Tunis, he said, adding that the international tender will be launched in 2018.
According to the minister, his department has implemented a new strategy to upgrade all airports in the country.
"Redevelopment has already started at the Tunis-Carthage International Airport (the main airport of Tunisia, located in the northern suburbs of Tunis), with a cost of 190 million dinars to reach 7.5 million passengers every year," he said.
Besides, Remada military airport, located 600 km south of Tunis, will be transformed into a civilian airport.
"The cost of the project is 22 million dinars, with a construction deadline of two years in coordination with the Ministry of Defense," Ayara said.
Two other civil airports in the southeastern city of Tozeur and the southeastern city of Djerba will also be involved, with respective costs of 30 million dinars and 62 million dinars.
For the maritime transport, the Tunisian minister announced the launch of a series of projects across the country's seven seaports including Zarzis commercial port, which is at a cost of 23 million dinars.
"The oil wharf will be redeveloped to accommodate more passenger vessels in addition to widening it to ensure the reception of oil pipelines and large oil tankers," said Ayara.
In addition, a new logistics zone worth 200 million dinars will be built by the end of 2019 in the maritime port of Rades in the province of Ben Arous, he added.