Chinese companies or joint ventures involving Chinese firms represent the majority of the total shortlisted positions for the construction of Ethiopia's forthcoming USD12.5 billion Bishoftu International Airport.

According to the shortlist, released by Ethiopian Airlines, Chinese companies represent the biggest single-country group by a significant margin. The shortlisted entities include:

  • China Communications Construction Company;
  • China Construction Eighth Engineering Division
  • China Road and Bridge Corporation;
  • China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation;
  • Beijing Construction Engineering Group Co., Ltd;
  • Beijing Urban Construction Group;
  • China First Highway Engineering Company Ltd;
  • China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation;
  • China Railway Beijing Engineering Group Co., Ltd;
  • Shandong Luqiao Group Co., Ltd.

The remaining bidders who have reached the pre-qualification stage are from various countries, including:

  • Türkiye: IC İçtaş İnşaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş (ICTAS), Kalyon İnşaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. (KALYON), and MAPA Construction and Trade Co. Inc;
  • Italy: WEBUILD S.p.A., and ICM S.p.A.;
  • France: VINCI Construction Grands Projets;
  • Qatar: Urbacon Trading & Contracting W.L.L. (UCC), and GB-ACT Group;
  • South Korea: Samsung Construction & Trading Corporation (SAMSUNG C&T);
  • United States: The Lane Construction Corporation;
  • Portugal: Mota-Engil Engenharia e Construção África, SA (MEECA), a subsidiary of Mota-Engil Group which operates in several countries in Africa;
  • Russia: JSC Natprojectstroy Group of Companies;
  • India: Afcons Infrastructure Limited;
  • Ethiopia and Djibouti: Ethio-Djibouti Railway.

Bidders are competing for four main works packages covering the airport's main terminal facilities, support facilities, airfield and infrastructure works, and offsite transport links.

Ethiopian Airlines has delayed selecting the final contractors until early January 2027 after bidders requested more time to prepare proposals and arrange financing for the multibillion-dollar project. Washington is trying to secure US participation in the project by linking it to additional Boeing aircraft for Ethiopian Airlines.