Kigali — The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, James Musoni, has announced that the Bugesera international airport construction project is progressing well.

According to Musoni, a British engineering company, TPS Consult, is working on a detailed design for the new airport to be constructed in Bugesera District, Eastern Province.

TPS is also carrying out the detailed engineering study which will end in June this year, paid for to the tune of Rwf 1.2biliion allocated from the national budget.

"The airport will be constructed through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and we are going to invite private investors in it," Musoni explained.

"If all goes as planned, by 2010 we will be processing the engineering requirements to begin construction", Musoni said in a telephone interview on Sunday.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Linda Bihire, told The New Times, last week that her ministry, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, will define the financial mode for the project by June.

In a separate interview from her offices, Bihire said there are some international private companies that have shown interest in the project.