ATHENS: Qatar has rejoined a public competition to develop the former Athens airport, one of the prized sites of Greece’s privatisation drive. Qatar “has signed the confidentiality agreement and is returning to the Hellinikon tender”, government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said. Qatari Diar, a subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority, had pulled out of the tender in January. The three other bidders are Elbin Cochin Ltd from Israel, London & Regional Properties from Britain, and Lamda Development of Greece.
The former airport of Hellinikon was originally put up for sale in December 2011. Situated 8km south of Athens, Hellinikon and an adjoining 337-berth marina built for the Athens 2004 Olympics span nearly 620 hectares and include waterfront of about 3.5km. It is more than three times the size of Monaco, and more than twice the size of Hyde Park in London. AFP
