Business Insider Africa
Olamikekan Okebiorun
17 August 2026
Chinese state-owned companies are among the leading contenders for major contracts at Ethiopia’s $12.5 billion Bishoftu International Airport, while no major independent U.S. contractor appears on the shortlist, drawing attention in Washington amid strained U.S.-Ethiopia ties shaped partly by tensions involving Egypt.
The U.S. is looking for ways to reassert its presence in the project after an earlier shortlist for Ethiopia’s $12.5 billion airport excluded major American contractors.
Ethiopian Airlines completed prequalification for four major construction packages in April, attracting companies and joint ventures from China, Europe, the Middle East, Türkiye, India and Russia.
Chinese firms secured 15 of the 33 places on the shortlist, either independently or through joint ventures, spanning 10 groups.
They include China Communications Construction Company, China Road and Bridge Corporation, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and Beijing Urban Construction Group.
The four packages cover the main terminal and airport facilities, airfield works, supporting infrastructure and offsite transport links...
