São Tomé and Príncipe annuls airport duty-free contract

Nicole Mezzasalma

Print Article E-Mail Article E-Mail Author

Duty-free concessionaire Sociedade de Desenvolvimento de São Tomé accused of contractual violations

The government of São Tomé and Príncipe has decided to annul the duty-free contract at São Tomé International airport following violations of the contractual obligations by concessionaire Sociedade de Desenvolvimento de São Tomé (SDST), part of Portuguese group Monte SGPS. The contract was originally signed in 2006 and was due to run until 2036.

News agency Lusa reported that São Tomé Prime Minister Joaquim Rafael Branco said the process of annulling the duty-free contract with SDST is being carried out by the Ministry of Justice and is due to be concluded this week. He added that an international public tender to select a new duty-free concessionaire for the airport could be launched soon.