China Railway No. 5’s (CR5) Role in Dominica

The China Railway No. 5 Engineering Group Co., Ltd. (CR5) has taken on one of Dominica’s most ambitious infrastructure projects: the Dominica International Airport. This project is a significant component of Dominica’s development strategy, aimed at enhancing the island’s connectivity to major global destinations and boosting its economy through increased tourism and trade.

China Railway No. 5’s (CR5) International Airport in Dominica

Awarded the contract through the Montreal Management Consultants Development Ltd. (MMC), CR5’s scope of work includes designing and building a modern international airport on the northeast coast between Woodford Hill and Wesley, covering approximately 500 acres. The airport’s infrastructure plan features a 2850-meter runway capable of accommodating large aircraft, a terminal building, an air traffic control tower, cargo facilities, and support infrastructure like a fuel farm and a firefighting station. Once completed, the airport can handle up to 750,000 passengers annually, supporting direct flights from North America, Europe, and Asia.

Project Funding and Impact

This transformative project is primarily funded through Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment Program (CBI), which has been pivotal in financing large-scale infrastructure developments on the island. The airport is expected to be operational by 2026, with CR5 committed to incorporating resilience measures in its construction to address Dominica’s climate vulnerabilities. CR5’s involvement not only advances Dominica’s economic goals by expanding tourism and trade but also brings significant employment opportunities to the local community, fostering development in nearby areas.

CR5’s partnership with Dominica marks a step toward modernizing the island’s infrastructure, showcasing the broader influence of Chinese engineering expertise in the Caribbean’s development landscape.