"The Asian Development Bank has issued a tender for developing a general development plan for the new Tbilisi International Airport," - the United Airports of Georgia said.

The body added it would oversee the selection process for a consulting company to develop the plan and share the project’s costs by 50 percent with ADB, marking the first instance of the Bank and the state company equally sharing costs.

Irakli Karkashadze, the General Director of the body, said “all” airline and consulting companies had the opportunity to participate in the tender for the facility planned in the location of a former military airfield in Vaziani, near the capital city

He emphasized the need for a “detailed and comprehensive” general development plan for the new airport, following preliminary studies and market research conducted in collaboration with ADB.

The tender process will consist of two stages, with a two-week window for companies to submit documentation in the first stage and subsequently receiving detailed technical offers from selected companies.

The winning company will be identified by July, the United Airports of Georgia said.

The project is expected to cost $1.26 billion.