KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government of Jamaica has closed the bidding process for the privatisation of the operations of the Norman Manley International Airport.

Dennis Morrison, chairman of the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) has indicated that no bids were received by the submission deadline of December 30, 2015, a news release from the AAJ said recently.

The chairman of the Enterprise Team for the privatisation, Michael McMorris, stated that the Government had engaged in a robust bidding process, which utilised the services of the International Finance Corporation?(IFC) as lead advisors for the transaction, and the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) as the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Secretariat.

The team is now expected to assess the outcome and make recommendations to the Minister of Transport, Works and Housing Dr Omar Davies, for deliberation by Cabinet. Subsequently, the minister is expected to make a public statement on the way forward.

The AAJ chairman has highlighted that NMIA is delivering strong operating and financial performance and will continue with the ongoing capital development programme.

As at November 2015, NMIA recorded traffic growth of five per cent and “significant upturn in revenues and profits”.

According to the release, with NMIA’s positive financial performance, it is able to service its debts and is not a charge on the national budget.