An agreement worth $680 million for the second phase of work at a major new airport in Sudan was signed on the sidelines of last week’s Bahrain International Airshow.

Khartoum New International Airport (KNIA) Project Directorate Director Fatima Abdullatif inked the deal with China Harbour Engineering Company East Africa Marketing Manager Zhang Wenfeng at the show’s media centre, reported the Gulf Daily News.

Abdullatif thanked the government of Bahrain for providing an “international platform” where the agreement could be signed.

KNIA is an 86,000-square meter airport currently under construction 40km away from Khartoum’s city centre. It will replace the current Khartoum International Airport in the heart of Sudan’s capital.

The first phase of work at KNIA, worth $700 million, is almost complete.

Sudan’s News Agency (SUNA) previously reported that a number of fraternal countries, Arab funds and the Jeddah-based Development Bank as well as China and Turkey would contribute to the funding of the project of the new Khartoum International Airport.