MEED on 23 August received the following letter from the chairman of Cairo Airport Company, Hassan Mohammed Hassan, clarifying the company's position on the tendering process for the expansion of Cairo International Airport (MEED 20:7:04):

Dear Sir

Your esteemed magazine has reported on 20 August 2004 that Cairo Airport Companyhas recommended to the World Bank that the consortium of [France's] Bouygues, Besix[of Belgium] and [local] OrascomConstruction Industriesbe awarded the contract to expand Cairo International Airport.

In this respect we wish to advise you that the tender evaluation process is still ongoing and has not been completed. Therefore, any information on the process will remain potentially incorrect and incomplete to publish until the process is duly completed and officially announced.

Drawing your attention to the strict confidentiality of the process as set by the World Bank regulations and to the possible negative effect brought about by the release of unofficial information, we appreciate contacting our office before issuing any related information.

Faithfully yours,

General Hassan M Hassan

Chairman,

Cairo Airport Company