Chinese Government provides grant for MA-60 Aircraft Acquisition Project

Project narrative

On May 28 and 30, 2012, Chinese Ambassador to Eritrea, Li Liansheng, and Eritrean Finance Minister, Berhane Abrehe, signed an exchange of letters regarding the MA-60 Aircraft Acquisition Project. The monetary value of the grant commitment from China’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Foreign Affairs is unknown. The project involved the acquisition of an MA-60 aircraft and the provision of a professional operation support team to help Eritrea build its aircraft operation capabilities, as Eritrean GAS (General Aviation Service) company, which was responsible for the operation of the aircraft, had no previous experience in passenger transportation. The operation team was selected by China Aviation Industry, and it included pilots, flight attendants, dispatchers, and maintenance personnel to help Eritrea build its operational capabilities. The operation team was selected by China Aviation Industry, and included pilots, flight attendants, dispatchers, and maintenance personnel to help Eritrea build its operational capabilities. Xian Aircraft Company was the contractor responsible for provision of the MA-60 aircraft. The aircraft was successfully delivered in December 2012. Then, on January 28, 2017, the aircraft was officially put into commercial operation in Eritrea.