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              Avolta begins operations in new border duty free store in Fray Bentos


                  Avolta has extended its Latin     A totally new store will be built later   government in the renovation project.
              American footprint by claiming the tender   this year when the whole border crossing   Avolta operates airport duty free stores
              to operate the Fray Bentos Duty Free Shop   is modernized as part of the Uruguayan   in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Ecuador, and
              in Uruguay. The duty free shop is located   government’s plans to improve conditions   Colombia in addition to a border store in
              adjacent to the Libertador General San   for drivers at land border crossings. More   Uruguaiana in Brazil.
              Martin International Bridge that links the   than $14 million will be invested by the              JG
              Uruguayan town with the Argentine town
              of Gualeguaychú. Fray Bentos is situated
              280km from Buenos Aires and 310km from
              Montevideo.
                  Working with local business partner
              Nuevo Paso de Frontera, Avolta won the
              tender that had been called in 2023. Avolta
              started operating the store at the beginning
              of March in the premises vacated by former
              incumbent Darok, when it ceased trading.

              Changi to stick with Galeão concession?


                  Brazil’s current policy on airport   in 2022 but still a long way from the 16.9   of Auditors to approve a 50% reduction in
              privatization remains unclear fifteen   million the airport saw in 2015. Traffic   the concession fee.
              months after the new administration   figures in 2024 have also been positive   But there is preoccupation in
              presided by Luis Inacio da Silva took over   with total traffic reaching 2.46 million for   government circles that this reduction
              control of the government. The last part   the first two months of the year compared   would bring about similar requests from
              of the Bolsonaro government’s airport   with 1.32 in 2023. Changi is hoping for at   other airport concession holders.
              privatization program with the proposed   least 14 million passengers this year.  Industry analysts told TMI that the
              privatization of Santos Dumont, the Rio de   Back in 2021, Changi intimated to   Sao Paulo Guarulhos concession holders
              Janeiro domestic airport, was immediately   the Brazilian government that they wanted   were looking for a contract extension
              canceled.                          to return the concession as the figures did   to compensate for the traffic downturn
                  The Changi controlled concession   not allow them to make a profit and their   during the pandemic years. Aeroportos
              at Rios’s Galeão International Airport   projections indicated that a decent financial   do Brasil, the manager of the Viracopos
              has also been under doubt for some time.   performance was a long way off.  concession, is also looking to change
              Rio’s traffic figures were disappointing   However, the recovery in traffic has   certain clauses of the agreement where
              prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the   brought the two sides to the negotiation   they had promised a series of infrastructure
              airport has struggled to produce solid traffic   table and Changi may decide to stay   improvements. Inframerica, a subsidiary of
              figures. But recent traffic restrictions put   with the concession but it is asking the   Corporacion America, is also looking for a
              in place in Santos Dumont have helped the   government for a significant reduction in   comprehensive concession review before
              airport managers see a slight recovery.  the concession fee. At the beginning of   conducting further airport improvements at
                  Total traffic reached 7.95 million   March, the Ports and Airports Ministry has   Brasilia.
              passengers in 2023, up from 5.89 million   requested the Government’s Federal Court                JG



               Summit of the Americas  April 2024                           48



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