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Airport Junction mall opens in Gaborone

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In November 2010 construction commenced on the 50 000 m² regional shopping centre, Airport Junction, northern Gaborone as a joint venture between Eris Property Group and local partner Bifm at an estimated cost of R 428 million.

The newly opened Airport Junction mall is a fully enclosed development covering 50 000m2 and featuring a wide range of retail options, which include fashion, hardware, grocery and furniture stores. The new mall adds to the already vibrant retail market, which will see competition come from Game City, Riverwalk, Sebele and the recently opened Rail Park malls.

According to Bifm CEO, Tiny Kgatlwane said that part of Bifm’s mandate is to utilise strategies that give value and deliver returns to its clients. Property development is a strategy Bifm uses to broaden its investments and helps the business deliver on this mandate. In this regard, Khumo Property Asset Management (Khumo PAM) is the business arm tasked with developing and managing properties in the Bifm portfolio. Khumo PAM is a 50/50 joint venture between Bifm and Eris Property Group of South Africa.

Assistant Minister of Finance and Development Planning Dr Gloria Somolekae, who officially opened Airport Junction, praised the development’s contribution to the economy.

“Approximately 1000 people were directly or indirectly employed during the construction phase and that there will be 700 permanent jobs created when the centre opens,” she said. The Minister of Transport and Communications, Nonofo Molefhi, Gaborone West-North MP Robert Masitara and the Director of Property Development also attended the official opening for Eris, Barend de Loor amongst other distinguished guests. Bifm has been involved in Public Private Partnerships that have seen delivery of the SADC Headquarters and Plot 21 – the Office of the Ombudsman and Land Tribunal. Another property where Bifm is an equity partner is Railpark Mall, which was officially opened by the vice-president, Lt Gen Mompati Merafe on Monday 23rd April.