Airport Master Planning/ Facility Planning & Design/ Infrastructure Planning & Design

NACO signs Protocol of Cooperation between International Airports Association Russia & CIS (IAA) and Dutch Aviation Solutions Russia (DASR)

Dutch Aviation Solutions Russia (DASR), a collaboration of leading Dutch aviation firms, today signed a partnership agreement with the International Airports Association Russia (IAA). In preparation of the 2018 World Cup, Russian airports are being privatized and modernized at a rapid speed. The agreement raises the profile of Dutch aviation among Russian airport owners. The document is signed by Royal HaskoningDHV subsidiary NACO (Netherlands Airport Consultants), in the presence of Dutch Foreign Trade and Development Minister Lilianne Ploumen and Russian Deputy Prime minister Arkady Dvorkovich.

The Dutch companies expect the agreement to result in short-term assignments with a total contract value of €5 million and €20-25 million long-term assignments. In order to accommodate more travellers for the 2018 World Cup, seven airports need to be modernized. Russia is interested in Dutch expertise to tackle the challenges of increased air traffic. In addition, the Russian aviation industry is interested in the Dutch experience of commercially developing airports and their surrounding areas. For this reason, nine Dutch companies signed a covenant at the end of 2012, to access the Russian market and share expertise. The companies operate under the name DASR.

Its Russian equivalent, IAA, was established by the leading Russian privately held airport holdings operating 18 regional airports and Moscow Vnukovo Airport in 2012. The initiative is tasked to provide a professional platform for Russian regional airports to promote and lobby its members' interests concerning airport regulation, law-making, management development and operations, airline network and connectivity.

"We highly value the Russian government’s and business commitment to establish a long-term working relationship. The partnership agreement enables a plethora of commercial opportunities for the Dutch aviation industry," said Rik Krabbendam, director of NACO and penholder of the agreement.

The agreement was signed during Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to the Netherlands. The visit is part of the opening of the Netherlands-Russia Year. Friendly relations between the two countries date back hundreds of years and from the start, trade and innovation have been at the heart of the relationship. Part of the program on 8 April is the Netherlands Russia Business Meet, during which Dutch and Russian businesses and governments exchange expertise and knowledge. During the event, Floris Marcus, Senior Advisor Masterplanning at Royal HaskoningDHV, will give a lecture about the successful development of profitable stadiums and lively stadium areas. He is in conversation with the organizing committee to avoid the danger of empty stadiums and derelict stadium areas after the World Cup. Erik Huber, Business Development Director of Oil and Gas, gives his views on the challenges we face in the Arctic and the solutions that businesses and knowledge institutions can contribute to responsible development. Erik Oostwegel, Vice-Chairman of Royal HaskoningDHV will be involved in the discussions between Vladimir Putin and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutten during CEO round table.

Released on 8 April 2013

For further information, please contact:

NACO, Netherlands Airport Consultants B.V. / Royal HaskoningDHV
Suzette Schreuder, Media Relations
Corporate Marketing & Communications
Tel.: 31 88 348 20 26 / +31 6 29 09 82 38
E-mail: suzette.schreuder@rhdhv.com

NACO is an independent consultancy and engineering firm, specialized in every aspect of airport planning and design. It provides specialist know-how and services for the development of airports and all associated facilities. NACO has performed numerous studies, designed a large number of airports or parts thereof and produced detailed plans and specifications as well as supervised the construction of the works concerned. NACO is a member of Royal HaskoningDHV (www.royalhaskoningdhv.com), a leading independent, international project management, engineering and consultancy service provider with nearly 8,000 professionals in 100 offices in 35 countries around the world. NACO is one of the key players of the Business Line Aviation, together with InterVISTAS (www.intervistas.com). More information can be found on www.naco.nl.